VCS Assistant Canteen Chief- North Chicago

Summary

Are you seeking a better work-life balance? Join an exceptional organization that prioritizes Veterans for an outstanding career! With over 80 years of serving our nation's Veterans, the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) is currently seeking a dynamic Assistant General Manager for our North Chicago, IL 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 include, but are not limited to the following: Operations Leadership: Support the daily operations of the Patriot Café, Patriot Retail, and/or Patriot Brew within the VA Medical Center. Team Supervision & Development: Supervise, train, and support assigned personnel to build a motivated, high-performing team. Customer Experience Excellence: Deliver and promote outstanding customer service standards to create a welcoming environment for Veterans, staff, and visitors. Food Safety & Quality Assurance: Ensure food quality, sanitation, cleanliness, and product availability to maintain high safety and service standards. Regulatory & Standards Compliance: Reinforce consistent adherence to established operational policies, procedures, and quality standards. Financial & Resource Management: Assist in managing inventory control, labor costs, and budget performance to optimize efficiency and profitability. Marketing & Promotions: Develop and implement local promotional programs to increase engagement and drive sales. Leadership Accountability: Report directly to the Canteen Chief, providing updates on operations, performance, and compliance.

Qualifications

Management Experience: Minimum of 1-2 years of direct food service and/or retail management experience. Proven track record of building sales, increasing profits, and developing staff. Leadership & Service Focus: Hands-on leadership style with a strong emphasis on customer service and hospitality. Technical Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, etc.) and experienced with POS systems. Certifications & Credentials: ServSafe certification required (or must be obtained within 90 days of hire). A current, valid REAL ID is required to work with the Veterans Canteen Service.

Requirements

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.

Education

Associate Degree in Business, Hospitality, or Management preferred (not required).

How to apply

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 09/07/2026 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 is 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 into 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.