Grooming Salon Manager

Petco • Hagerstown, MD

18d

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 varying experience levels. The leader also performs professional grooming services, prioritizing the safety, comfort, and well-being of every pet in the salon.

The position oversees daily workflows, scheduling, inventory, staffing, hiring, training, and performance evaluations. It monitors salon performance and collaborates with store management to meet sales targets and salon objectives. The role also provides customer service and grooming recommendations, maintains grooming and sanitation standards, and performs bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning.

Most duties take place indoors in the grooming salon. The work involves direct contact with pet parents and dogs and collaboration with salon partners. The environment may be noisy and wet. The position requires bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, standing for long periods, and potentially using a two-step ladder or other support tools for cleaning and maintenance.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of experience as a professional groomer and/or completion of a technical grooming training program.
• Strong leadership skills and a desire to lead, train, and develop people.
• Very strong verbal and written communication skills for interacting 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 continuing a career in pet grooming.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills, including the ability to resolve moderately complex situations with guidance when necessary.
• Results-driven commitment to salon productivity, performance, growth, and improvement.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to execute grooming services accurately 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.
• Ability to bend, kneel, lift up to 30 pounds as necessary, and stand for long periods; may need to work at heights using a two-step ladder or other support tools.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily grooming salon operations, workflows, scheduling, capacity, inventory, and staffing plans.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate grooming team members, fostering teamwork and professional development.
• Create grooming schedules that balance team availability and business needs, optimize productivity, and accommodate customer demand, including peak hours.
• Monitor salon performance metrics, analyze results, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop action plans.
• Collaborate with store management to achieve sales targets and salon objectives and to drive growth, customer acquisition, and profitability.
• Provide professional customer service, respond to grooming inquiries, make recommendations, and resolve questions or concerns promptly.
• Stay current with grooming industry trends and best practices and support development of the team's grooming skills.
• Perform professional grooming services, including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, following customer instructions, breed standards, and company policies.
• Operate and maintain grooming instruments, including clippers, blades, shears, brushes, and dryers.
• Evaluate each pet's coat, skin conditions, and temperament to determine individual needs.
• Educate pet parents and recommend grooming maintenance, home-care practices, and products.
• Monitor animals' safety and well-being, identify signs of discomfort, illness, or injury, and promptly report concerns to pet owners and store management.
• Maintain a clean and safe salon; conduct quality checks, disinfect and sanitize tools and equipment, and perform scheduled cleaning and maintenance duties.
• Apply Petco grooming policies, standards, and guidelines and hold salon team members accountable for safety and quality standards.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and other benefits.
• 401(k).
• Paid time off.
• Petco discounts.
• Supplies and equipment provided for grooming work.
• Career development and growth opportunities, including Grooming Mentor and Grooming Instructor roles.
• Competitive pay, salon-performance incentives, and tips.

What This Job Offers

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