Michèle Piercey

Work History

Alliance for Peacebuilding

04.2024 - 02.2025

Led organizational management and strategic development for the leading global association of peacebuilding organizations, supervising multidisciplinary teams and managing critical partnerships across sectors
Innovation Leadership: Led communities of practice including peace technology initiatives, fostering collaboration between tech experts and practitioners while exploring applications of AI and emerging technologies for global challenges
Partnership Development: Established and managed cross-sector partnerships with civil society organizations, research institutions, and technology companies, creating collaborative frameworks that aligned with strategic objectives
Funding & Sponsorship: Secured philanthropic funding through successful proposal development for cutting-edge work in technology integration and conflict prevention

Chemonics International

03.2020 - 04.2024

Provided technical leadership and strategic guidance to improve program performance and achieve organizational objectives across international development initiatives
Strategic Partnerships: Forged high-impact partnerships with technology organizations including Bellingcat, TIMBY, and Rana Labs, organizing peer learning sessions, external engagement, and project implementation
International Collaboration: On assignment to Ukraine, collaborated with Ukrainian civil society to establish the Ukraine Assistance Coordination Center, adapting donated CRM software to allow the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to interface with Polish border authorities
Ecosystem Development: Facilitated strategy design and program performance evaluations for teams of up to 70 professionals, applying data-driven approaches to assess community impact
Performance Evaluation: Conducted program evaluations and management reviews in Poland (for Ukraine), Sudan, and Lebanon, implementing metrics and assessment frameworks that enhanced program effectiveness

Chemonics International

01.2019 - 02.2020

Led and managed a $300M project focused on community development and stabilization in areas recovering from conflict, leading a team of 80 staff while building relationships with diverse stakeholders
Key Achievements: Large-scale Program Management: Oversaw complex budget management, contractual compliance, and operational excellence for a multimillion-dollar initiative
Technology Integration: Worked with youth civil society to pilot online accountability tools that tracked attendance and voting of elected officials
Innovation Catalyst: Partnered with civil society organizations to create award-winning virtual reality experiences documenting significant social issues

Chemonics International

09.2017 - 01.2019

Led 45-person team supporting Chemonics projects worldwide
As Executive Management Team member, helped shape strategic, policy, and financial direction
Oversaw corporate communications and sensitive policy engagements, serving as lead outreach officer and government affairs liaison
Built Chemonics’ corporate and industry reputation for tech and innovation, launching a company-wide contest for the best tech solutions to implementation problems; offered seed funds for piloting new technologies and approaches on projects
Pioneered use of machine learning tools for sentiment analysis in CVE work with Arizona State University Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict and brought remote sensing and early warning technologies to Chemonics’ projects in closing civic spaces in West and North Africa

Chemonics International

10.2015 - 09.2017

Led 45-person team supporting projects worldwide as Executive Management Team member, shaping strategic, policy, and financial direction while overseeing corporate communications and sensitive policy engagements
Key Achievements: Innovation Ecosystem Building: Built corporate and industry reputation for tech and innovation, launching a company-wide contest for the best tech solutions to implementation problems with seed funds for piloting new technologies
Technology Leadership: Pioneered use of machine learning tools for sentiment analysis in partnership with Arizona State University and implemented remote sensing and early warning technologies for projects in West and North Africa
Strategic Communication: Served as lead outreach officer and government affairs liaison, managing high-level stakeholder relationships
Convening Leadership: Conceived and produced company's first evidence summit for effective approaches to conflict prevention, bringing together dozens of civil society and technology firms to share innovations and forge partnerships
Key Achievements Capacity Building: Designed and delivered training for project staff on using perception data and social media analytics to design activities and assess program outcomes

Development Alternatives Inc.

08.2008 - 10.2015

Served as lead technical expert for all projects and new business efforts in conflict prevention and stabilization, supervising professional team while building cross-sector partnerships and specialist networks
Initiated DAI’s innovation initiative (2014-2015) instituted first DAI innovation initiative, bringing together university partners, small tech businesses, and entrepreneurs for structured discussions on how to elevate DAI program impact in climate science, conflict prevention, and youth engagement
Resulted in at least three new partnerships between DAI and institutional and SB partners for current and proposed work
Chief of Party, Tunisia Transition Initiative (2012-2014): Led team of 35 staff implementing a $29M project supporting community-led democratic transition
Partnered with civil society on social media campaigns, hackathons, and digital voter registration campaigns
Deputy Chief of Party, Afghanistan Stabilization Initiative – East (2009-2012): Managed field implementation of community development portfolio across 12 districts, supervising 100+ staff
Delivered locally-driven initiatives through small grants and community engagement