Application Guide
How to Apply for Program Officer
at Fortify Health
🏢 About Fortify Health
Fortify Health is a nonprofit organization uniquely focused on addressing micronutrient deficiencies through large-scale food fortification in India. They work at the intersection of public health, government policy, and private sector engagement, specifically targeting staple foods like chakki atta (whole wheat flour) to improve nutrition outcomes cost-neutrally. Someone might want to work here to drive tangible public health impact through innovative, evidence-based programs that bridge policy and market implementation.
About This Role
This Program Officer role involves directly supporting atta millers to adopt fortification without increasing costs, while simultaneously working with Indian state and central governments to integrate fortified wheat flour into social safety net programs like PDS and ICDS. The role is impactful because it directly contributes to reducing anemia and micronutrient deficiencies at scale by making fortified staples accessible through both open markets and government channels.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve field visits to atta millers to troubleshoot fortification processes, followed by meetings with state government officials to discuss integration into social safety net schemes. You could spend afternoons analyzing monitoring data on fortification quality or coverage, and drafting reports to inform program adjustments and advocacy efforts.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Fortify Health Is Looking For
- Has 2-4 years of hands-on experience implementing field-based programs in public health, nutrition, or food systems in India, with demonstrable project management skills.
- Possesses practical knowledge of monitoring and evaluation frameworks specific to nutrition or food fortification programs, including data collection tools and impact assessment methodologies.
- Has a proven track record of building and managing relationships with government officials (e.g., at state food or health departments) and private sector stakeholders like small-to-medium millers.
- Can analyze program data (e.g., fortification quality, coverage rates) to measure impact and adapt strategies, using tools like Excel, SPSS, or similar for reporting and decision-making.
📝 Tips for Applying to Fortify Health
Tailor your resume to highlight specific experience working with Indian government programs (e.g., PDS, ICDS, state health missions) or engaging with small-scale food processors/millers.
Quantify your impact in previous roles—e.g., 'managed a network of 50+ millers,' 'increased fortification coverage by X% in a district,' or 'coordinated with 3 state governments on policy adoption.'
Demonstrate knowledge of India's food fortification landscape by mentioning relevant policies (e.g., FSSAI fortification standards, POSHAN Abhiyaan) or challenges like chakki atta fortification.
If you have experience, briefly describe a monitoring and evaluation project you designed or implemented, focusing on nutrition or food security indicators.
Research and reference Fortify Health's specific projects or partnerships (e.g., their work in Maharashtra or with miller associations) to show genuine interest in their model.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Explain your direct experience in program implementation and management, especially in contexts requiring coordination between multiple stakeholders (government, private sector, NGOs).', "Highlight your ability to work with government partners—mention any specific departments or officials you've engaged with and outcomes achieved.", 'Describe your monitoring and evaluation skills with an example, such as designing surveys, tracking fortification quality, or measuring program reach.', "Express alignment with Fortify Health's mission of cost-neutral fortification and scaling impact through both market and policy channels."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Fortify Health's specific projects and geographic focus in India—review their website, reports, or news articles about their work with millers or governments.
- → India's food fortification landscape: FSSAI standards for wheat flour fortification, government initiatives like the Fortification of Foods programme, and key challenges in chakki atta fortification.
- → Social safety net programs in India, particularly the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and how they handle food distribution.
- → Key stakeholders in India's wheat flour industry, such as miller associations, and public health nutrition priorities like anemia reduction.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning Fortify Health's focus on cost-neutral fortification or chakki atta specifically.
- Overemphasizing high-level policy experience without concrete examples of on-ground program management or stakeholder engagement.
- Failing to demonstrate knowledge of monitoring and evaluation beyond basic theory—interviewers will expect practical, field-tested insights.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Fortify Health!