Grooming Salon Manager

Petco • Charleston, SC

13d • Onsite

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 developing and coaching groomers at all experience levels. The leader also performs professional grooming services, prioritizing the safety, comfort, and well-being of pets in the salon.

The position oversees daily salon workflows, scheduling, staffing, inventory, and performance. It recruits, trains, supervises, and evaluates grooming staff; collaborates with store management on sales and salon objectives; and provides pet parents with customer service and grooming guidance. The leader performs grooming services and maintains salon safety, cleanliness, and quality standards in accordance with Petco policies.

Most duties take place indoors in a grooming salon. The work involves direct contact with pet parents, dogs, and salon team members. The environment may be noisy and wet. The role requires bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, standing for long periods, and may involve working at heights using a two-step ladder or support tools for cleaning and maintenance. The position requires at least 35 hours per week, including weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed by the grooming schedule.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of professional grooming experience 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 desire to continue a career in pet grooming.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills, including resolving moderately complex situations with guidance from a Solutions Manager or Store General Manager when necessary.
• Results-driven, with 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 required by the grooming schedule.
• 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 support tools for cleaning and maintenance.

Nice To Haves

• 1–2 years of previous salon management experience or experience in a related field.
• High school diploma or GED is preferred, though the posting’s wording is incomplete.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day salon operations, workflows, grooming capacity, inventory, and staffing plans.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate grooming team members while fostering teamwork and professional development.
• Create grooming schedules that optimize salon capacity and productivity, meet customer demand, and provide coverage during peak hours.
• Monitor salon revenue, customer satisfaction, and partner productivity; identify improvement opportunities and develop action plans.
• Collaborate with store management to meet sales targets and salon objectives and to grow the customer base and profitability.
• Provide professional customer service to pet parents, answer grooming-related questions, make recommendations, and resolve concerns.
• Stay current on grooming industry trends and best practices and develop personal and team grooming skills.
• Perform professional grooming services, including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, following pet-parent instructions, breed standards, and company policies.
• Operate and maintain grooming instruments, including clippers, blades, shears, brushes, and dryers.
• Assess each pet’s individual needs, including coat type, skin condition, and temperament.
• Educate pet parents and recommend grooming maintenance, home-care practices, and products to support pet well-being.
• Protect the safety and well-being of animals; monitor for discomfort, illness, or injury and promptly report concerns to pet owners and store management.
• Conduct quality checks; clean and sanitize the salon, tools, and equipment; perform scheduled cleaning and maintenance duties in accordance with hygiene and sanitation policies.
• Apply and uphold Petco grooming policies, standards, and guidelines, maintaining safety, quality, and consistency and holding salon team members accountable.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, incentive based on salon performance, and tips, according to the Grooming Salon Leader Incentive Plan.
• Medical, dental, vision, and other benefits.
• 401(k) and other benefits.
• Paid time off.
• Petco discounts.
• Grooming supplies and equipment provided.
• State-of-the-art grooming equipment provided.
• Career development and growth opportunities, including Grooming Mentor and Grooming Instructor roles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED