Melissa Chipili
Washington,USA
Summary
Professional leader with strong record of driving organizational success and fostering team collaboration. Adept at strategic planning, project management, and policy development. Known for flexibility in dynamic environments and results-driven mindset. Strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills that ensure consistent achievement of goals.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Director, Center for Education
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
08.2023 - 07.2025
- Co-managed a budget of $188M and oversaw staffing, technical assistance, and evidence and research to strengthen education development programs globally.
- Co-managed an office of over 60 education and international development experts of various hiring mechanisms.
- Co-led a restructuring of the Center for Education to better prepare USAID to administer $1.2B in congressionally mandated education funding.
- Supervised and mentored 15 new Foreign Service Education Officers as they prepared for their overseas assignments.
- Mentored and provided personnel and technical support to 83 Foreign Service Education Officers at over 40 overseas posts.
- Co-led the Inclusive Growth, Partnership and Innovation Bureau’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Council.
Deputy Director, Office of Education, Youth, and Child Development
USAID Uganda
09.2019 - 07.2023
- Co-managed a $212M portfolio supporting the achievement of USG and Government of Uganda (GOU) objectives in basic education, youth livelihoods, and child protection.
- Managed $55M of basic education funds invested in five education development activities across four technical offices.
- Managed a $148M child well-being, education, and youth development contract with multiple sources of funding.
- Co-managed an office of 17 staff members that improved education and health outcomes in over 70 districts in Uganda.
- Led bilateral and multilateral investments in education in Uganda, including Global Partnership for Education and Education Cannot Wait funding totaling over $300M.
- Represented the USG as co-chair of the Education Development Partners (EDPs) Group.
- Served as Co-chair of USAID’s DEIA Council.
Deputy Executive Officer
USAID Mozambique
06.2016 - 07.2019
- Co-managed an office of 32 staff members and directly supervised a team of 17.
- Served as lead Contracting Officer for all simplified acquisitions and Personal Service Contracts.
- Co-managed a $27 million annual Cost of Operations Budget.
- Managed a USG-owned housing compound consisting of 12 houses, a nine-floor office building and a guesthouse.
- Founded a Professional Development Advisory Committee which included all staff collectively working to identify professional development priorities and opportunities.
Acting Supervisory Executive Officer
USAID Mozambique
06.2015 - 06.2016
- Managed and supervised a team of 26 and oversaw an operations budget of $27M.
- Managed operations and human resources for a office of over 170 staff members.
- Supervised human resources services, procurement, travel, building maintenance, and records management teams.
Executive Officer
USAID Washington
09.2013 - 06.2015
- Completed Foreign Service Officer technical competency training.
- Attained a professional proficiency level in speaking and reading Continental Portuguese.
Education Development Officer
USAID Afghanistan
10.2011 - 08.2013
- Led a program design team with international partners and the government of Afghanistan, for a $92 million Higher Education Program.
- Drafted a concept paper, program authorization documents, and official memoranda related to program development and implementation.
Director of Management and Operations
Peace Corps Malawi
02.2009 - 10.2011
- Managed an office of 33 and directly supervised a team of 16.
- Managed all administrative and logistical support for 33 staff members and 120-130 Peace Corps Volunteers living throughout Malawi.
- Developed and facilitated workshops and trainings for locally employed and U.S. Direct Hire staff members on federal policies and procedures, federal reporting requirements, and internal SOPs.
- Managed a budget of $2M.
Assistant Country Desk Officer, East African Desk
Peace Corps
04.2006 - 02.2009
Peace Corps Volunteer, Teacher of English as a Foreign Language
Peace Corps
08.1999 - 07.2001
Education
Master’s Degree - international training and education
American University
Washington, DCBachelor's Degree - English Literature, Certificate in Women’s Studies
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PASemester-At-Sea
Institute for Shipboard Education
Skills
- Change management
- Program management
- Program implementation
- Process improvements
- Organizational leadership
- Operating budgets
- Operational leadership
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
- Relationship building
- People management
- Strategic planning
Languages
Portuguese
Professional Working
Timeline
Deputy Director, Center for Education
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
08.2023 - 07.2025
Deputy Director, Office of Education, Youth, and Child Development
USAID Uganda
09.2019 - 07.2023
Deputy Executive Officer
USAID Mozambique
06.2016 - 07.2019
Acting Supervisory Executive Officer
USAID Mozambique
06.2015 - 06.2016
Executive Officer
USAID Washington
09.2013 - 06.2015
Education Development Officer
USAID Afghanistan
10.2011 - 08.2013
Director of Management and Operations
Peace Corps Malawi
02.2009 - 10.2011
Assistant Country Desk Officer, East African Desk
Peace Corps
04.2006 - 02.2009
Peace Corps Volunteer, Teacher of English as a Foreign Language
Peace Corps
08.1999 - 07.2001
Semester-At-Sea
Institute for Shipboard Education
Master’s Degree - international training and education
American University
Bachelor's Degree - English Literature, Certificate in Women’s Studies
University of Pittsburgh
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