Grooming Salon Manager

Petco • Carmel Mountain, CA

16d

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 different experience levels. The leader also performs grooming services—including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning—while prioritizing the safety, comfort, and well-being of pets.

This position is suited to experienced groomers with technical expertise and leadership skills who want to develop a team. Most duties take place indoors in the grooming salon, with substantial direct contact with pet parents and dogs as well as other salon partners. The environment may be noisy and wet. The role requires bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, and standing for extended periods. It may also involve working at heights using a two-step ladder or other support tools for cleaning and maintenance.

The stated hourly pay range is $15.00–$30.00. Pay may vary by location, experience, and applicable minimum wage requirements. Petco lists medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, discounts, grooming supplies and equipment, and career development opportunities among the offerings for this role.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of experience as a professional groomer and/or completion of a technical grooming training program.
• 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; able to address 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 deliver grooming services accurately to high standards.
• Able 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 grooming schedule.

Nice To Haves

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• One to two years of previous salon management experience, or experience in a related field, preferred.
• Strong leadership skills and desire to lead, train, and develop people.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily salon operations, workflows, scheduling and grooming 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 staff availability and business needs, accommodate customer demand, and provide coverage during peak hours.
• Monitor revenue, customer satisfaction, and partner productivity; identify opportunities for improvement and develop action plans.
• Work with store management to achieve sales targets and salon objectives, grow the customer base, and improve profitability.
• Provide professional customer service, answer grooming inquiries, make recommendations, and resolve questions or concerns in a timely manner.
• Keep current with grooming trends and best practices and build the skills of the salon team.
• 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 such as 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 to support pet well-being.
• Protect the safety and well-being of animals, monitor 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; and complete daily, weekly, and other assigned cleaning and maintenance tasks.
• Apply Petco grooming policies, standards, and guidelines to maintain safety, quality, and consistency, and hold salon team members accountable to those standards.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and other benefits
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Petco discounts
• Grooming supplies and equipment provided
• Career development and growth opportunities, including Grooming Mentor and Grooming Instructor paths
• Competitive pay, salon-performance-based incentives, and tips

What This Job Offers

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