Are you seeking a better work-life balance? Join an exceptional organization that prioritizes Veterans for an outstanding career! With over 78 years of serving our nation's Veterans, the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) is currently seeking a dynamic General Manager for our Washington, DC, VA Medical Center Canteen. Join our fast-paced environment if you have a passion for our Veterans and their families, along with prior multi-unit experience.
Summary
Are you seeking a better work-life balance? Join an exceptional organization that prioritizes Veterans for an outstanding career! With over 78 years of serving our nation's Veterans, the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) is currently seeking a dynamic General Manager for our Washington, DC, VA Medical Center Canteen. Join our fast-paced environment if you have a passion for our Veterans and their families, along with prior multi-unit experience.
DUTIES:
Duties of this position include, but are not limited to:
Culinary Standards & Quality Oversight: Serve as the technical and quality expert, ensuring food safety, sanitation, and customer service standards are consistently met across all food operations. Monitor compliance, conduct quality control, and implement improvements in menu execution, taste, and presentation.
Leadership, Direction & Performance Oversight: Provides day-to-day leadership by assigning work, setting clear performance standards, and directing staff in accordance with established policies. Monitors work in progress and upon completion to ensure accuracy, timeliness, coordination, and accountability.
Menu Development & Recipe Innovation: Develop and implement specialized recipes and menus that reflect seasonal, cultural, and dietary needs. Introduce modern techniques, equipment, and culinary trends to enhance product quality and customer satisfaction.
Event Planning & Catering Execution: Plan, coordinate, and execute small- and large-scale catering events, including those for high-ranking officials. Ensure resources, staffing, and ingredients are managed to consistently deliver high-quality service.
Staff Training & Development: Identify training needs, provide or arrange learning opportunities, and coach employees to improve culinary skills, food safety practices, and operational efficiency.
Food Operations Management & Resource Planning: Coordinate and monitor all aspects of food production, including inventory forecasting, equipment, labor, and ingredient management. Provide long-range planning and budget input to optimize operations and support culinary program advancement.
Customer Experience & Engagement: Ensure exceptional customer service by addressing concerns constructively, implementing feedback from focus groups, and adjusting operations to meet customer expectations while supporting organizational mission goals.
As a Condition of Employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- Your performance and conduct
- The needs and interests of the agency
- Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government
- Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Additional Conditions of Employment include:
-Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
-Subject to background/security investigation.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Food Service Operations Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge of food service operations, including the ability to oversee daily functions, improve processes, and resolve complex operational challenges in a regulated, high-volume environment.
Culinary Knowledge and Continuous Learning: Working knowledge of formal culinary principles and procedures, typically gained through education or hands-on experience, with the ability to stay current on emerging culinary techniques, trends, and best practices.
Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance: Proven knowledge and practical application of food safety standards, including food inspection methods, testing and measurement techniques, FDA Food Code requirements, and HACCP principles to ensure safe and compliant operations.
Supply and Inventory Management: Strong understanding of supply management principles, including inventory control, storage, and distribution, to support efficient operations and minimize waste.
Communication and Customer Service Skills: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, build positive working relationships, deliver strong customer service, and utilize computer systems and common office technology effectively.
Additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package that includes:
Resume
The following documents are accepted and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal Employees), etc.
Most recent SF-50
Performance Appraisal
Separation Notice (RIF)
Veterans' Preference: Since the Veterans Canteen Service falls under 38 U.S.C. 7802, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified Veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 3/5/2026 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log in to your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account, or your application will be incomplete.
VCS Central Office
1 Jefferson Barracks Drive Bldg. 25
St. Louis, MO 63125
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package that includes:
Resume
The following documents are accepted and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal Employees), etc.
Most recent SF-50
Performance Appraisal
Separation Notice (RIF)
Veterans' Preference: Since the Veterans Canteen Service falls under 38 U.S.C. 7802, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified Veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 3/5/2026 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, select the Application Status link, and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log in to your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account, or your application will be incomplete.
VCS Central Office
1 Jefferson Barracks Drive Bldg. 25
St. Louis, MO 63125
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
