Grooming Salon Manager

Petco • Engelwood, OH

2d

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—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, staffing, recruiting, hiring, training, supervision, and performance evaluations. It monitors salon performance metrics and works with store management to meet sales and salon objectives. The role also communicates with pet parents, offers grooming and home-care recommendations, maintains safe and sanitary salon conditions, and upholds Petco’s grooming policies and standards.

The majority of duties take place indoors in the grooming salon. The environment can be noisy and wet, and the role involves direct contact with pets, pet parents, and salon team members. The position requires bending, kneeling, standing for long periods, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, and may involve working at heights using a two-step ladder or other support tools. Full-time availability of at least 35 hours per week is required, including weekends, evenings, and holidays as needed by the salon schedule. Compensation is listed as $15.00–$28.00 hourly, with incentive pay based on salon performance and tips.

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 interest in continuing a career in pet grooming.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills, including the ability to address 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.
• Availability 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

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

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day grooming salon operations, workflows, scheduling, grooming capacity, inventory, and staffing plans.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate grooming salon team members, fostering teamwork and professional development.
• Create and manage grooming schedules to maximize productivity and accommodate customer demand and business needs.
• Monitor salon revenue, customer satisfaction, and partner productivity; analyze results and develop improvement plans.
• Collaborate with store management to achieve sales targets and salon objectives and support business growth and profitability.
• Provide professional customer service, respond to grooming inquiries, offer recommendations, and resolve concerns promptly.
• Keep up with 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 customer instructions, breed standards, and company policies.
• Operate and maintain grooming instruments and equipment.
• Assess each pet’s coat, skin condition, temperament, and individual grooming needs.
• Educate pet parents and recommend grooming maintenance, home-care practices, and products to support pets’ well-being.
• Protect pets’ safety and well-being, monitor for signs of discomfort, illness, or injury, and report concerns to pet owners and store management.
• Maintain clean and safe salon conditions; disinfect and sanitize tools and equipment; 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 standards.

Benefits

• $500 sign-on bonus paid after 90 days of employment.
• $1,000 retention bonus paid after one year of consecutive employment.
• 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 roles.
• Incentive pay based on salon performance and tips.

What This Job Offers

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