Assistant Manager

Bowie Barker•Los Angeles, CA

13d•$24 - $26

About The Position

Bowie Barker is looking for a hands-on, customer-focused, and team-driven Assistant Manager to help oversee daily store operations. This role is key to ensuring that both the front-of-house (FOH) and back-of-house (BOH) teams run smoothly, supporting staff, managing customer experience, optimizing schedules, and maintaining overall store efficiency. The Assistant Manager works closely with the Area Manager to drive operational success, team engagement, inventory management, labor efficiency, and ensure that grooming and bathing services are performed safely and consistently. As the right-hand support to the Area Manager, the Assistant Manager acts as the on-site leader when the Area Manager is not present, maintaining a calm and solutions-driven presence under pressure, and ensuring the shop runs efficiently during all shifts. This role requires flexibility, including assisting in the bathing room when necessary, setting the standard for front desk operations, stepping in to support or provide coverage during high-demand moments, and occasionally assisting with urgent team communication or scheduling needs outside of regular working hours (all compensated accordingly).

Requirements

Leadership or supervisory experience in retail, pet care, grooming, hospitality, or service industries.
Ability to lead, support, and coach a team while maintaining a hands-on approach.
Ability to stay calm under pressure, manage multiple priorities at once, and maintain a positive, solutions-driven approach in a fast-paced environment.
Experience managing customer schedules, appointments, and operational workflow.
Knowledge of inventory management, supply ordering, and labor optimization best practices.
Comfortable assisting in the bathing room when necessary to support the team during high-demand times.
Proven ability to lead a store independently when needed, acting as the primary decision-maker in the Area Manager’s absence.
Strong sense of ownership and responsibility, representing Bowie Barker professionally both in and out of the store and stepping in to support the team whenever business needs arise.

Responsibilities

Assist in leading and developing FOH and BOH teams, ensuring they meet performance expectations.
Support and delegate responsibilities to team members for operational success.
Foster a positive and high-performing team culture that aligns with Bowie Barker’s values.
Act as a mentor for staff, providing coaching, training, and on-the-floor support to both new and existing team members.
Manage customer schedules, ensuring appointment books are optimized both in advance and in real time.
Responsible for coordinating front desk staff schedules to ensure adequate coverage and efficiency.
Collaborate with the Grooming Lead to optimize operation, flow, safety, and implement new systems/rules.
Be comfortable stepping into the bathing room when the team is significantly behind on services, ensuring smooth operations and reducing wait times.
Maintain a full-time leadership mindset and act as the primary on-site decision-maker when the Area Manager is off-site, ensuring seamless operations, strong team communication, and consistent adherence to Bowie Barker standards.
On limited occasions, support urgent team communication or scheduling adjustments outside of regular working hours. Any off-site or after-hours work performed will be compensated accordingly.
Assist the Area Manager with maintaining and overseeing inventory.
Order supplies on a rolling basis, including grooming tools, cleaning products, snacks, first aid kits, etc.
Check-in weekly with Grooming Lead to anticipate supply needs (e.g., scissor sharpening, tool replacement).
Collaborate with the store team to ensure proper supply stock levels and organization.
Lead by example at the front desk, ensuring that all processes follow the Bowie Barker blueprint for customer service excellence.
Manage and coach new front desk team members.
Promote an understanding of business priorities, customer needs, and back-of-house operations.
Address concerns, boost team morale, and ensure all front desk staff are set up for success.
Assist with new front desk team member training as needed.
Drive sales initiatives such as membership sales, add-ons, and promotions as they arise.
Play an active role in front desk shifts, ensuring efficient appointment management, customer engagement, and seamless communication with BOH.
Lead decision-making on customer interactions, escalations, and operational flow while on shift.
Champion a “customer-first” mentality by proactively addressing concerns.
Act as the first point of contact for customer complaints, involving the Grooming Lead as needed for grooming-related concerns.
Escalate major customer issues, including safety concerns or dog-related injuries, to the General Manager and Regional Manager as needed.
Safeguarding guest financial data.
Monitor and manage text messages and emails, ensuring timely responses to customer inquiries and complaints.
Enforce grooming and bathing safety protocols, ensuring all safety standards are met.
Hold BOH staff accountable for dog handling, employee safety, and reducing incidents.
Ensure that the store is compliant with all sanitation and safety regulations.
Work closely with the Area Manager to align on goals, operational improvements, labor efficiency, and team support.
Maintain open communication with team members, ensuring clarity in expectations and responsibilities.
Responsible for tasks that may involve sensitive decision-making and access to confidential data.
Handling confidential information with discretion.
Collaborate with the FOH and BOH teams to drive success through teamwork and accountability.