Senior Leadership Career Path: Equal Employment Manager (GG-15) at the Defense Intelligence Agency

The health of any world-class organization relies upon the integrity, diversity, and equity of its workforce. Within the United States Intelligence Community, these pillars are even more critical, directly impacting the operations of national security initiatives. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is currently seeking an accomplished, highly strategic human resources and compliance executive to step into the role of Equal Employment Manager (GG-15) in Washington, District of Columbia.

Earning an executive-level salary ranging from $169,279 to $197,200 per year, the successful candidate will serve as the chief strategist and regulatory authority overseeing equal opportunity initiatives, complex conflict resolution programs, and civil rights compliance. This is a rare opportunity for an established professional to direct vital workplace protections, protect employee rights, and support the overarching mission of national defense.

About the Agency: The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

The Defense Intelligence Agency is a key pillar of the United States Department of Defense and the national Intelligence Community. Since its inception in 1961, the DIA has provided military intelligence to warfighters, defense policymakers, and force planners to defeat global adversaries and prevent strategic surprise.

To accomplish these objectives, the DIA relies on a workforce characterized by a deep commitment to its four core organizational values:

Teamwork: Fostering collaboration at every level of operations and across multi-agency boundaries.
Integrity: Absolute adherence to the highest legal, moral, and ethical principles.
Excellence: Demanding unmatched expertise and operational precision in defense intelligence.
Service: Putting the safety, security, and welfare of the nation above personal ambitions.

As the Equal Employment Manager, your mission will be to integrate these values into the institutional fabric of the agency. By ensuring that every professional is treated with dignity, respect, and in full compliance with federal civil rights laws, you directly bolster the morale and readiness of the personnel who keep our nation safe.

Job Responsibilities: Leading EEO at the Highest Level

The GG-15 Equal Employment Manager is a senior leadership position requiring extensive professional maturity, an exceptional grasp of labor and employment law, and strong communication skills. You will not merely process files; you will shape agency policy, consult with executive leaders, and drive initiatives that mitigate organizational risk.

Primary Duties and Objectives:

Strategic Policy Leadership: Interpret, draft, and oversee the execution of policies governing the DIA’s agency-wide Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Equal Opportunity (EO) programs. You will define systemic workplace challenges, engineer complex corrective actions, and mentor junior compliance professionals.
Executive Advisory Services: Serve as an expert, high-level consultant to senior intelligence leaders on the adjudication, resolution, and mitigation of equal employment complaints. You will deliver real-time briefings on evolving administrative and legal developments.
Complex Investigations Oversight: Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of workplace dispute investigations, assessing complaints and formalizing recommendations on final agency decisions in strict accordance with Title VII and related federal mandates.
Trend Analysis and Innovation: Drive predictive research on workplace trends, employee feedback, and modern administrative methodologies. You will develop modern internal guidance and preventative systems before regulatory changes take effect.

Requirements and Qualifications

Because this role involves managing sensitive workplace programs within a highly classified environment, candidates must satisfy rigorous professional and personal standards. All candidates must prove they can lead EEO programs of significant size and complexity.

Critical Conditions of Employment:

Citizenship: Candidates must hold verified United States citizenship at the time of their application.
Security Clearance: Because of proximity to highly sensitive information, candidates must qualify for and maintain a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
Drug Testing: Selected individuals must successfully clear a pre-employment drug screening and participate in continuous random testing programs.
Mobility Agreement: Candidates must agree to sign a standard civilian mobility agreement, which allows the agency to reassign personnel as necessary to achieve core national security goals.

Professional Qualifications Comparison

To illustrate the criteria for this senior-level role, the table below highlights the differences between core requirements and highly desired skills:

Functional Focus	Core Requirements (Assessment Factors)	Highly Desired Skills (Preferred Assets)
Regulatory Knowledge	In-depth understanding of federal EEO policies, Title VII, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).	Deep, practical mastery of EEOC case law, administrative precedents, and modern statutory interpretations.
Dispute Resolution	Recommending final decisions on complex, multi-party equal opportunity complaints.	Advanced command of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) techniques to proactively resolve organizational disputes.
Workplace Investigations	Directing EEO functional areas, including compliance, complaints, and reasonable accommodations.	Possession of recognized EEO certifications (e.g., certified Federal EEO Counselor or EEO Investigator).
Institutional Training	Educating management and internal teams on compliant workplace practices.	Designing and presenting complex training curricula regarding emerging legal trends and regulatory shifts.

Salary and Compensation Overview

The Equal Employment Manager is appointed under the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) framework. DCIPS utilizes a General Grade (GG) classification system, which is structurally aligned with the Office of Personnel Management’s General Schedule (GS) scale.

Grade Level: GG-15
Annual Salary Range: $169,279 to $197,200 per year
Payment Mode: Bi-weekly, via mandatory Direct Deposit / Electronic Funds Transfer.

This executive compensation tier is designed to attract top-tier legal, HR, and civil rights talent from both the private and public sectors, ensuring that the agency’s equal opportunity office is led by an expert.

Comprehensive Benefits Package

In addition to competitive base compensation, careers with the Defense Intelligence Agency provide an exceptional suite of benefits designed to support your family, health, and long-term financial security:

Health and Wellness: A wide array of premium Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plans, dental and vision care, and access to on-site fitness facilities.
Retirement Planning: Full participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension plan and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) featuring up to 5% agency matching contributions.
Paid Leave Programs: Generous yearly accumulation of paid annual vacation leave, robust sick leave, and observance of all standard federal holidays.
Professional Advancement: Tailored continuous education programs through the National Intelligence University, advanced leadership seminars, and career development pathways.

Step-by-Step Application Guide and Insider Tips

Applying for high-level federal positions within the Intelligence Community requires close attention to detail. Follow these strategic steps to ensure your application stands out:

Locate the Portal: Navigate to the DIA's official careers site and select the online recruitment engine.
Establish an Account: Create your unique profile by selecting the 'New User' option.
Search the Vacancy: Use the advanced search tools to find the GG-15 Equal Employment Manager position using the 6-digit Job Opening ID.
Target the Assessment Factors: Do not submit a generic resume. Modify your career documentation to directly show your experience in the five Assessment Factors (initiative in trend research, providing expert advisory services, EEO functional oversight, and complex complaint management).
Submit Early: Finalize your application and transmit your packet several days before the formal closing date on September 11, 2026 to prevent technical delays.

Pro-Tip for Federal Resume Writing

Use the CCAR (Context, Challenge, Action, Result) methodology. Instead of simply listing your daily tasks, explicitly describe a complex EEO issue you faced, the federal laws you applied, the investigations you managed, and the positive organizational outcomes you secured.

Why This Equal Employment Manager Job Matters

Lead the charge for civil rights, equity, and workplace integrity within the nation's premier defense intelligence community as a Senior Equal Employment Manager.

Equal Employment Manager Job Overview

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is searching for a highly accomplished, strategic leader to fill the role of Equal Employment Manager (GG-15) in Washington, D.C. Earning a competitive annual salary of $169,279 to $197,200, the selected individual will oversee comprehensive Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Equal Opportunity (EO) programs. This critical position serves as the agency's primary authority on EEO complaints resolution, federal compliance, reasonable accommodations, and statutory workplace regulations, including Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Situated within the Excepted Service under the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS), this high-impact role requires top-level clearance and a passion for fostering a fair, diverse, and legally compliant federal workplace.

Requirements for Equal Employment Manager

Must hold United States citizenship at the time of application.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security clearance.
Must successfully pass an initial special background investigation and subsequent periodic reinvestigations.
Subject to a mandatory pre-employment drug screening and subsequent random testing.
Compliance with agency medical examination and physical capacity standards.
Willingness to sign an agreement pledging nondisclosure of classified materials to unauthorized individuals.
Agreement to participate in the mandatory Department of Defense Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer program.
Willingness to sign a civilian mobility agreement as dictated by agency mission demands.
Successful completion of a mandatory two-year Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) trial period.

Preferred Qualifications for Equal Employment Manager

Extensive history of interpreting and executing federal EEO statutes, precedent case law, and formal EEOC guidelines.
Prior execution or maintenance of valid professional EEO certifications, such as EEO Counselor or EEO Investigator.
Demonstrated proficiency in leading complex workplace investigations and strategically utilizing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practices.
Proven experience designing, developing, and presenting technical training programs on complex EO statutory interpretations and evolving workplace trends.
Comprehensive understanding and execution of the end-to-end lifecycle of EEO complaint processes and complex Reasonable Accommodations management.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Highly competitive base compensation under the specialized DCIPS General Grade (GG) pay schedule.
✓Access to premium federal health, dental, and vision insurance systems.
✓Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension plan and the high-yield Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with generous government matching contributions.
✓Substantial paid time off, including sick leave, annual vacation accrual, and federal holidays.
✓Access to specialized intelligence community continuous education programs and executive leadership training.
✓On-site health and wellness centers, work-life balance programs, and employee advocacy networks.

💡 How to Apply Equal Employment Manager Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Equal Employment Manager Job

Navigate to the official Defense Intelligence Agency online portal.
Select 'Careers' and click on 'Search and Apply for Jobs' to open the specialized application engine.
If you are a first-time user, select 'New User' to build your formal application account and profile.
Utilize the advanced search parameters to input the specific Job Opening ID for this position.
Carefully populate every electronic field, ensuring that your descriptions address the core assessment factors and qualifications.
Save your progress frequently, then submit the application prior to the designated closing deadline of September 11, 2026.

💡 General Tips

Do not submit a generic resume; align your career achievements directly with the five specified Assessment Factors to ensure maximum score potential.
Explicitly detail your familiarity with Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and active EEO certifications you possess.
Ensure your professional timeline contains precise start and end dates, hours worked per week, and federal grade levels held if applicable.
Verify your contact details and active email address in your profile, as all notifications regarding selection, interviews, and next steps are communicated electronically.
Submit your packet several days before the closing date to mitigate any unexpected high-traffic server delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade and pay system governs this role?

This position is offered as a General Grade (GG) 15 role, which is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). This system features a compensation and grading structure very similar to the standard OPM General Schedule (GS) framework.

Is teleworking or remote accommodation available for this manager position?

No. Given the secure nature of the environment, intelligence operations, and access to Sensitive Compartmented Information, this position requires work to be performed directly on-site at the agency facilities in Washington, D.C.

What type of background investigation is mandatory for employment?

Because this position is within the Intelligence Community, selected candidates must successfully complete a thorough Special Background Investigation to secure a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance. This process may include personal interviews, a polygraph examination, and drug screening.

Who is eligible to apply for this vacancy?

This position is widely open to all qualified United States citizens, with distinct consideration pathways established for members of the general public, veterans, current excepted service employees, and eligible National Guard or Reserve members.