Groomer

Petco•Stafford, VA

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Petco’s Pet Stylist provides professional grooming services to customers’ pets, ensuring exceptional care and that each pet looks and feels its best. The role performs expert grooming services while prioritizing animal safety, comfort, and well-being and delivering high-quality customer service to pet parents. Groomers may also be assigned additional tasks by the Grooming Salon Leader, Solutions Manager, or Store General Manager. The position offers opportunities to develop grooming expertise and productivity, with potential career paths including Grooming Salon Leader, Grooming Mentor, and Grooming Instructor. Most duties take place indoors in a grooming salon. The work involves frequent direct contact with pet parents and dogs, as well as collaboration with other salon partners. The environment can be noisy and wet. The position involves bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, and standing for extended periods. Some cleaning and maintenance duties may require working at heights with a two-step ladder or using support tools such as vacuums.

Requirements

Successfully complete Petco’s Pet Stylist Apprentice program, or have previous professional grooming experience and/or complete a technical grooming training program.
Demonstrate expert knowledge of dog breeds, grooming requirements, common health issues, and behaviors.
Demonstrate proficiency in breed-specific cuts, styling techniques, and grooming standards.
Have strong verbal and written communication skills for interactions with pet parents and grooming team members.
Be capable of handling pets of all sizes and temperaments with care and empathy.
Be available to work weekends, evenings, and holidays as required by the Pet Care Center’s grooming schedule.
Demonstrate strong attention to detail and execute grooming services accurately and to high standards.
Show a genuine passion for animals and desire to continue a career in pet grooming.
Be results-driven, with commitment to productivity, performance, and ownership of the role in the grooming salon.
Use grooming knowledge and skills to solve routine to moderately complex problems, with guidance when necessary.
Meet the position’s physical demands, including bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, and standing for long periods.

Nice To Haves

High-school diploma or GED is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform professional grooming services, including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, according to pet-parent instructions, breed standards, and company policies and procedures.
Operate and maintain grooming instruments, including clippers, blades, shears, brushes, and dryers.
Prioritize the safety and well-being of animals, monitor pets for discomfort, illness, or injury, and promptly report concerns to pet owners and store management.
Evaluate each pet’s needs, considering coat type, skin conditions, and temperament.
Interact professionally with pet parents, provide customer service, answer grooming-related inquiries, offer recommendations, and resolve questions or concerns in a timely manner.
Educate pet parents and provide customized recommendations about grooming maintenance, at-home care practices, and products.
Maintain a clean and safe grooming area and salon; disinfect and sanitize tools and equipment; perform daily and weekly cleaning duties in accordance with hygiene and sanitation policies; and complete other assigned cleaning and maintenance tasks, including cleaning air filters, vents, and drains.
Apply Petco grooming policies, standards, and guidelines to maintain safety, quality, and consistency in grooming activities and salon operations.
May train, support, and supervise entry-level trainees when a Grooming Salon Leader is absent.
Complete additional tasks as assigned by the Grooming Salon Leader, Solutions Manager, or Store General Manager.