Grooming Salon Manager

Petco • Richmond, VA

5d

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—including bathing, drying, brushing, haircuts and styling, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning—while prioritizing each pet’s safety, comfort, and well-being.

This position oversees daily salon workflows, scheduling, capacity, inventory, and staffing. It recruits, trains, supervises, and evaluates salon staff; tracks salon performance and develops improvement plans; collaborates with store management on sales and business objectives; and provides customer service and grooming recommendations to pet parents. The role requires expert grooming knowledge, including breed-specific techniques and standards, and responsibility for maintaining salon cleanliness, sanitation, equipment, and safety standards.

Most duties take place indoors in a grooming salon. The position involves direct contact with dogs, pet parents, and salon coworkers in an environment that may be noisy and wet. It requires bending, kneeling, standing for extended periods, lifting up to 30 pounds as needed, and may involve working at heights with a two-step ladder or support tools.

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 desire to pursue a career in pet grooming.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills, including handling moderately complex situations with guidance from a 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.
• Availability to work full time, at least 35 hours per week, including weekends, evenings, and holidays as required by the grooming schedule.
• Ability to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation, including bending, kneeling, standing for long periods, and lifting up to 30 pounds as needed.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily grooming salon operations, workflows, scheduling, capacity, inventory, and staffing plans.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate grooming salon team members, fostering teamwork and professional development.
• Create grooming schedules that optimize salon capacity and productivity while accommodating customer demand and business needs.
• Monitor salon revenue, customer satisfaction, and partner productivity; analyze results and develop improvement plans.
• Work with store management to meet sales targets and salon objectives and to support growth and profitability.
• Provide professional customer service, answer grooming-related questions, make recommendations, and resolve concerns.
• Keep grooming knowledge and team skills 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, in accordance with customer instructions, breed standards, and company policies.
• Operate and maintain grooming instruments and equipment, including clippers, blades, shears, brushes, and dryers.
• Assess each pet’s coat, skin condition, temperament, and individual grooming needs.
• Educate pet parents about 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.
• Conduct quality checks and maintain a clean and safe grooming area; disinfect and sanitize tools and equipment and complete daily, weekly, and other assigned cleaning and maintenance duties.
• Apply Petco grooming policies, standards, and guidelines and hold salon team members accountable for safety and quality.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, salon-performance incentives, and tips.
• Medical, dental, vision, and other benefits.
• 401(k).
• 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 paths.

What This Job Offers

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