Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellow, Congressional Hunger Center

Position description

Accelerate Your Impact on Global Food and Nutrition Security

Join a dynamic cohort of emerging technical leaders as a Leland Fellow—a two-year opportunity to work at the intersection of innovation, policy, and practice. A program of the Congressional Hunger Center, this fellowship offers hands-on experience designing and scaling solutions that address malnutrition and food insecurity in Asia. While placed at Helen Keller International, you’ll contribute directly to high-impact initiatives in food fortification, regulatory systems, and private-sector partnerships—while learning from and working alongside communities at the front lines of food systems change.

If you’re driven to learn, passionate about execution, and committed to meaningful global impact, the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship is your next step.

Must-Have Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residency (Green Card holder)
• Advanced degree or equivalent experience in Food Science and/or Food Technology, with some knowledge of nutrition and food regulatory standards
• Technical expertise in food quality assurance, including familiarity with food safety regulations and standards
• Experience in R&D, particularly in the design and implementation of food fortification projects
• Ability to work effectively across diverse teams and cultures, with a background or strong interest in international development
• Strong analytical, communication, and project management skills
• Professional proficiency in English; knowledge of local languages in South or Southeast Asia is a plus

About the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship

The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship, administered by the Congressional Hunger Center, is a two-year leadership development program for emerging professionals dedicated to ending global hunger. Fellows engage in a blend of fieldwork and policy engagement, supported by mentorship, cohort-based learning, and professional development. The program builds technical capacity and leadership skills to prepare the next generation of global food security leaders.

About Helen Keller International

Helen Keller International is a global health and nutrition organization working to eliminate preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and disease. Operating in over 20 countries, Helen Keller promotes scalable, cost-effective solutions, including food fortification, nutrition education, and health system strengthening. In Asia, the organization leads large-scale food fortification initiatives and supports the development of fortified complementary foods, focusing on improved nutrition for women and children.

Fellowship Responsibilities

• Support the scale-up of large-scale food fortification (LSFF) and development of fortified complementary foods
• Conduct market and regulatory research to inform program strategy and product design
• Collaborate with local SMEs and food processors to improve product quality and compliance with standards
• Assist in the development and implementation of national fortification standards in collaboration with regulatory bodies and policy platforms
• Contribute to R&D activities, including fortificant trials, product innovation, and testing new food vehicles
• Support advocacy and coalition-building with national and global stakeholders (e.g., Codex Alimentarius, government ministries)
• Document field learnings and translate them into policy recommendations and tools for decision-makers
• Roll out Helen Keller’s advocacy training module across country teams
• Serve as a liaison between SMEs and government actors, promoting responsible marketing and sustainable nutrition practices
• Provide technical support to strengthen quality assurance systems and build SME capacity to meet food safety and nutrition standards

Fellowship Benefits

• Stipend covering all local living expenses
• Travel costs, including relocation and regional program travel, covered
• Access to mentorship, field and policy experience, and a global professional network committed to ending hunger and malnutrition

Application instructions

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