Role: Rapid Response Officer

Please read this role descriptor carefully - have you got the essential skills or experience that we need?​

 

What does this role do?

The Rapid Response Officer at ReportOUT plays a central role within the Rapid Operational Response and Resilience (RORR) Team, ensuring the organisation can react swiftly, accurately, and strategically to breaking news events that affect LGBTQ+ people globally. When a significant incident occurs, the Rapid Response Officer helps convene the RORR process, gathers and assesses reliable information, and supports the development of ReportOUT’s clear and consistent organisational position.

 

Members of this team are responsible for drafting formal public statements, coordinating rapid communications across channels, and liaising with partner organisations, in-country activists, researchers, and agencies to amplify impact. The role also involves tracking actions, timelines, and approvals during fast-moving situations, as well as contributing to post-response reviews to strengthen future practice. The Rapid Response Officers also lead our new LGBTQ+ News Group, which will meet once a month to discuss recent LGBTQ+ developments with the wider volunteer and staff team. Through this work, the Rapid Response Officer helps position ReportOUT as a trusted, credible voice on urgent global LGBTQ+ rights issues while ensuring responses are ethical, informed, and well-coordinated.​​

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Essential skills, experience, or qualifications you need for this particular role: 

• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, accurate, and authoritative formal public statements under time pressured situations.

• Strong ability to assess breaking news critically, identify relevance to LGBTQ+ communities, and distinguish verified information from misinformation.

• Ability to work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams, including researchers, communications staff, trustees, and external partners where needed.

• High levels of organisation and time management, with the ability to manage multiple actions, timelines, and approvals simultaneously.

• Confidence engaging with partner organisations, activists, agencies, and stakeholders, including those based in different countries and time zones.

• Good understanding of risk, safeguarding, and ethical considerations when responding publicly to sensitive global events.

• Comfortable using digital and social media tools to coordinate rapid responses.

• Able to respond quickly to world events, recognising that news cycles move quickly. 

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Desirable skills, experience, or qualifications: 

• Previous experience in a rapid response, crisis communications, media, or advocacy role.

• Existing networks or contacts within civil society, research, journalism, or grassroots activism.

• Experience supporting or coordinating joint statements, coalition responses, or public campaigns.​