Grooming Salon Manager

Petco • Apple Valley, MN

4d

About The Position

The Grooming Salon Leader leads and manages grooming salon operations and team members while delivering expert grooming services. The role is responsible for customer satisfaction, a positive work environment, salon performance, and coaching and developing groomers at all experience levels. The leader also performs grooming services such as bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, while prioritizing the safety, comfort, and well-being of pets.

The position oversees daily workflows, scheduling, capacity, inventory, staffing, hiring, training, and performance management. It monitors salon metrics and works with store management to achieve sales targets and salon objectives. The leader provides customer service and grooming recommendations, maintains grooming and sanitation standards, and ensures team members follow Petco policies and procedures.

The work is primarily indoors in a grooming salon, with substantial direct contact with pet parents, dogs, and salon partners. The environment can be noisy and wet. The position involves bending, kneeling, standing for long periods, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, and possible exposure to heights while performing cleaning and maintenance duties. The schedule requires at least 35 hours per week, including weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed by the grooming schedule.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of experience as a professional groomer and/or completion of a technical grooming training program.
• Strong leadership skills and interest in leading, training, and developing people.
• Very strong verbal and written communication skills for interactions with pet parents and grooming team members.
• Expert knowledge of dog breeds, grooming requirements, common health issues, and behaviors.
• Expert-level proficiency in breed-specific cuts, styling techniques, and grooming standards.
• Genuine passion for animals and interest in a career in pet grooming.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills; able to address moderately complex situations with guidance from the Solutions Manager or Store General Manager when necessary.
• Results-driven commitment to salon productivity, performance, growth, and improvement.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver grooming services accurately and to high standards.
• Ability to handle pets of all sizes and temperaments with care and empathy.
• Available to work at least 35 hours per week, including weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed by the Pet Care Center grooming schedule.
• Able to bend, kneel, lift up to 30 pounds as necessary, and stand for long periods.
• High school diploma or GED is preferred, though the posting’s wording is incomplete.

Nice To Haves

• 1–2 years of previous salon management experience or experience in a related field.
• High school diploma or GED.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily salon operations, workflows, scheduling and grooming capacity, inventory, and staffing plans.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate grooming salon team members, fostering collaboration and ongoing development.
• Create grooming schedules that balance team availability with customer demand and business needs, including peak-hour coverage.
• Monitor salon revenue, customer satisfaction, and partner productivity; analyze results and develop improvement plans.
• Collaborate with store management to achieve sales targets and salon objectives and grow the customer base and profitability.
• Provide professional customer service, respond to grooming inquiries, offer recommendations, and resolve questions or concerns.
• Keep current with grooming industry trends and best practices and develop grooming skills in self and team members.
• Perform professional grooming services, including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, according to customer instructions, breed standards, and company policies.
• Operate and maintain grooming instruments, including clippers, blades, shears, brushes, and dryers.
• Assess each pet’s coat, skin conditions, temperament, and individual grooming needs.
• Educate pet parents and recommend grooming maintenance, home-care practices, and products.
• Monitor pets’ safety and well-being, watch for signs of discomfort, illness, or injury, and promptly report concerns to pet owners and store management.
• Conduct quality checks and clean, disinfect, and sanitize the grooming area, tools, and equipment in accordance with hygiene and sanitation policies; complete assigned cleaning and maintenance tasks.
• Apply Petco grooming policies, standards, and guidelines and hold salon team members accountable for safety and quality standards.

Benefits

• Competitive pay plus salon-performance-based incentives and tips, subject to the Grooming Salon Leader Incentive Plan.
• Medical, dental, vision, and other benefits.
• 401(k).
• Paid time off.
• Petco discounts.
• Supplies and equipment provided for the role.
• Career development and growth opportunities, including Grooming Mentor and Grooming Instructor paths.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed