Grooming Salon Manager

Petco • New Milford, CT

7d • 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 coaching and developing groomers at all experience levels. The leader also performs professional grooming services, prioritizing each pet’s safety, comfort, and well-being.

The position oversees daily salon workflows, schedules, inventory, staffing, and performance. It involves recruiting, training, supervising, and evaluating salon staff; collaborating with store management; serving pet parents; and maintaining the salon’s safety, cleanliness, and quality standards. The leader provides grooming recommendations and home-care guidance, 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 role involves frequent direct contact with dogs, pet parents, and salon partners. The environment can be noisy and wet. Physical activities include bending, kneeling, standing for extended periods, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, and potentially using a two-step ladder or other support tools for cleaning and maintenance.

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.
• 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 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, including resolving moderately complex situations with guidance when necessary.
• Results-driven commitment to salon productivity, performance, growth, and improvement.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver 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.

Nice To Haves

• One to two years of previous salon management experience or experience in a related field.
• High school diploma or GED preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily grooming salon operations, workflows, scheduling, grooming capacity, inventory, and staffing plans.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate grooming team members, fostering teamwork and professional development.
• Create efficient grooming schedules that maximize productivity and meet customer demand while ensuring coverage during peak hours.
• Monitor salon revenue, customer satisfaction, and partner productivity; identify improvement opportunities and develop action plans.
• Collaborate with store management to achieve sales targets and salon objectives and to grow the customer base and profitability.
• Provide professional customer service to pet parents, answer grooming questions, offer recommendations, and resolve concerns promptly.
• Keep grooming skills and team knowledge current with industry trends and best practices.
• 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.
• Assess each pet’s needs, including coat type, skin conditions, and temperament.
• Educate pet parents and recommend grooming maintenance, home-care practices, and products.
• Monitor each animal’s 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; keep the grooming area clean and safe; disinfect and sanitize tools and equipment; complete daily and weekly cleaning and assigned maintenance tasks.
• Apply Petco grooming policies, standards, and guidelines and hold salon team members accountable for safety and quality.

Benefits

• Competitive pay with salon-performance incentives and tips, in accordance with the Grooming Salon Leader Incentive Plan.
• Medical, dental, vision, and other benefits.
• 401(k).
• Paid time off.
• Petco discounts.
• Supplies and equipment provided for grooming work.
• State-of-the-art grooming equipment, including bathing systems, kennels, tables, and dryers.
• 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