Chris Biles

About Chris Biles

Chris Biles currently lives and works in Washington D.C. as an International Program Specialist and Team Lead in the Fellowship Programs Division of the Foreign Agricultural Service. She also serves as Acting Director as needed. Her day-to-day involves the management of Fellowships and Exchange programs designed to strengthen agricultural capacity. She previously worked for conservation and environmental education organizations in California and Alaska, and for the Peace Corps in Tanzania where she focused on sustainable agriculture and water management. Chris graduated from St. Lawrence University with a BS in Conservation Biology. She also studied at Rochester Institute of Technology, Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and extensively in the Adirondack State Park of New York.The views and opinions provided herein are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Foreign Agricultural Service or of the United States.Life is a journey and I walk it step by step, open to any and all adventures and possibilities. Noticing the small things makes my heart beat, feeling the magnitude of the big things checks my step and ensures I walk the right path. I love music, words, images, art. I love the majesty and complexity of the natural world, playing within its realms. And I love the connectivity and depth of humanity, the fact that we are only people through other people.\"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the winds long to play with your hair.\"(Khalil Agricultural Service USDA, YMCA of Greater Rochester, Peace Corps Tanzania, Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, Student Conservation Association, Youth Conservation Corps (Yosemite), St. Lawrence UniversityWebsite (creative writing and photography): Competencies-Sustainable International Agricultural Capacity Strengthening-Grant Writing/Review-Training Development/Facilitation-Project Design, Implementation, Management-Budget Formulation and Analysis-Volunteer Management-Administration Assistance-Oral and Written Communication-Interpersonal Skills, Negotiating Skills-Team Leadership-Resource Creation and Compilation-Technical Writing, Creative WritingSkillset-Leadership-Communication and teamwork-Perseverance-Flexibility and adaptability-Organization, multi-tasking, and strategic planning-Critical thinking and problem solving-Logical Reasoning-Time management-Relationship-building-Emotional Intelligence-Metacognition-Environmental Awareness

Experience

1. International Program Specialist - Team Lead

   USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)

   Jun 2023 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   As a Team Lead within the Fellowship Programs Division, Scientific Exchanges Branch, I lead the management of four different programs focused on scientific exchange/agricultural education worldwide. I effectively organize the team to manage ~55 projects with funding totaling close to 10 million USD. These capacity strengthening and relationship building projects allow for educational and cultural exchange with a focus on agriculture and building trade enabling environments.This work involves the creation, advertisement, and management of Notice of Funding Opportunities, review/selections of proposals for awards to educational institutions and private sector organizations to implement international programs, and management of agreements along with the expectations, communication, and engagement with stakeholders relevant to all projects. I ensure compliance of over 50 implementers while building positive relationships.I routinely provide superiors with project management updates in written and oral forms, and compose formal decision memos, selection memos, and information memos/briefing documents. I lead the creation of trackers and operational guides to train new employees and assist active employees. I continuously represent the agency at conferences and events, and during work-related travel, advise on projects, maintain and build relationships, increase collaboration, build rapport and gain support for agency’s policies and programs.In addition, I am the on the executive board for the agency\'s Mid-Professionals Advancing Careers Together (MPACT) professional development group, serving as the Membership Coordinator.

Education

• Stellenbosch University

  Cities, Sustainability, and Community

  2012 — 2012

• St. Lawrence University

  Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Conservation Biology

  2009 — 2013

Skills

• Teaching
• Cashiering
• Environmental Education
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Public Speaking
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Microsoft Word
• Foreign Languages
• International Development
• Conference Organization
• Rainwater Harvesting
• Microsoft Office
• After School Programs
• Program Evaluation
• Needs Assessment
• Leadership Development
• Capacity Building
• Youth Leadership
• Conservation Biology
• Volunteer Support
• Creative Writing
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Train the Trainer Programs
• Curriculum Development
• Cross-Cultural Communication Skills
• Field Work
• Hiv/Aids Education
• Murals
• Food Service
• Nutrition Education
• Qualitative Research
• Ecology
• Microsoft Excel
• Poetry
• Home Gardens
• Well Construction
• Conference Facilitation
• Research
• Quantitative Research