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Posted: January 5, 2026 (9 days ago)

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Grocery Department Manager

Defense Commissary Agency

Department of Defense

Recent

Location

Salary

$52,414 - $68,135

per year

Closes

January 18, 2026

GS-6 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $37,764 - $49,094

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-5. Bachelor's degree + some experience.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading a grocery department in a military commissary store, where you'll plan operations, supervise staff, manage inventory, and handle customer and vendor interactions to keep shelves stocked and sales running smoothly.

It's ideal for someone with hands-on experience in retail food stores, like supermarkets, who enjoys organizing teams and solving day-to-day challenges in a fast-paced environment.

A good fit would be a detail-oriented leader comfortable with both people management and basic warehouse tasks.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 (for GS-6), such as managing a retail food store department or providing advice on grocery merchandising
  • Or, half a year of graduate education in business administration, public administration, agricultural economics, or related fields (for GS-6)
  • Or, a combination of specialized experience and qualifying education that totals 100% of the requirement
  • Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy with patrons and vendors
  • Knowledge of retail procurement, distribution methods, and food merchandising principles
  • Physical ability to lift items and perform warehouse-related tasks
  • Relevant transcripts if qualifying through education

Full Job Description

Grocery Department Managers plan, direct, and supervise work in a commissary's grocery department.

This may include a small warehouse or repositioning area, a separate receiving area, and/or contract shelf stocking.

Grocery Department Managers exercise tact and diplomacy when interacting with commissary patrons and vendors. Read the entire announcement before starting the application process.

You must meet qualifications and requirements by the announcement closing date.

Your resume (and/or transcript if necessary) must clearly show that you meet the qualifications (i.e., specialized experience and/or education requirements) for the grade level(s) for which you are applying.

At the GS-6 and 8 grade levels, you can meet the minimum qualifications through specialized experience, education, or a combination of the two.

To calculate the combination, divide your total months of specialized experience by 12.

Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

If they total 100%, you meet the minimum qualifications through a combination of specialized experience and education.

Specialized experience is written to the lowest equivalent grade level that meets the minimum experience requirement. What does this mean to applicants?

Example: An applicant has one year of specialized experience at the GS-8 grade level and wants to apply for a GS-9. The GS-9 requires specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7.

Since the applicant has specialized experience at a higher grade (i.e., GS-8) than is required (i.e., GS-7), the applicant may apply for the GS-9.

Specialized experience is demonstrated knowledge of retail procurement and distribution methods; principles, procedures, and techniques of retail food merchandising and retail food store management, and developments in commercial retail food store items, equipment, and practices.

Examples of creditable qualifying specialized experience include: Managing a commissary store, supermarket, or similar type of commercial retail food store.

Managing a department in a retail food store. Planning, standardizing, or controlling operations in an assigned group of retail food stores.

Developing, interpreting, or applying policies, procedures, and operating standards for use in a retail food store.

Providing technical advice on merchandising and operational matters pertaining to grocery, meats, and produce supplies, as well as front-end operations.

You will receive credit for all relevant qualifying experience (paid and unpaid), including volunteer work done through National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Education used to qualify for this position, in whole or in part, must have equipped you with the knowledge and ability to perform the work of the position, as evidenced by on-the-job-training in food retail management or an internship or practicum in food retail management.

Transcripts are required if relying on education to qualify. See Required Documents for more information.

Qualifications For GS-6: (A) one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level OR (B) 1/2 year of graduate level education with major study in business administration, public administration, agricultural economics (food industry management), or other fields related to the position, OR (C) a combination of specialized experience and education.

For GS-8: (A) one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level OR (B) one and one-half years of graduate level education with major study in business administration, public administration, agricultural economics (food industry management), or other fields related to the position, OR (C) a combination of specialized experience and education.

Physical requirements: (1) Lift products weighing up to 40 pounds unassisted and occasionally over 40 pounds with assistance. (2) Stand, stoop, kneel, bend, and climb for prolonged periods.

You will attest to your ability to perform these physical requirements in the Questionnaire.

You must also meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements by the announcement close date.

Time-in-grade applies to the promotion of current and former federal employees who hold or have held a permanent GS position in either the competitive or excepted service in the previous 52 weeks.

Your application package must contain proof you meet this requirement. See Required Documents for more information. For GS-6: You must have 52 weeks of Federal service at or equivalent to GS-5.

For GS-8: You must have 52 weeks of Federal service at or equivalent to GS-6 Time after competitive appointment.

Current federal civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since being selected for a non-temporary appointment from a competitive examination register of eligibles (an announcement opened to the public) or under a direct hire authority.

As part of the online application process, you will respond to a series of questions designed to evaluate your possession of these competencies: Commissary Operations Customer Service Merchandising Safety Procedures Management Experience in Retail Store Overtime: Occasional Bargaining Unit Status: Not covered Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt Obligated Position: If obligated, you occupying the position is subject to the former incumbent returning.

If the former incumbent does not return to the position, your occupancy may become permanent. Tentative job offers identify if the position you are offered is obligated.

Those retired under CSRS or FERS considered: No. DoD criteria not met. Recruitment/Relocation Incentives Offered: None Major Duties:

Supervising department employees, assigning work, and balancing workload. Ensuring ordering, receiving, stocking, pricing, selling, and subsistence supplies are properly maintained.

Ensuring that end displays, special product promotions, and patron savings programs are properly displayed and promoted.

Inspecting all commissary store equipment, reporting required maintenance to proper section for resolution.

Managing the Not-In-Stock (NIS) listing and working with appropriate personnel to correct deficiencies. Inspecting shelf merchandise for product deterioration, spoilage, or deficiency.

Managing the merchandising operation for the store. Working with the commissary Quality Assurance Evaluator (QAE) on contractor performance. Enforcing all safety rules and regulations.

Work conditions: Most of the work is performed in the store display area which is well lighted and maintained at a comfortable temperature.

When working in the storage or receiving area, may be exposed to hot or cold weather, or damp and drafty conditions.

May be exposed to differences in temperature when storing or obtaining items from chill or frozen storage rooms.

There is a danger of minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, bruises, and slipping on wet floors.

Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/5/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/6/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: DECA-26-12859871-MP