Grooming Salon Manager

Petco • Tallahassee, FL

20d • 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. It 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.

The role oversees daily salon workflows, scheduling, grooming capacity, inventory, staffing, hiring, training, supervision, and performance evaluations. The leader monitors salon metrics, collaborates with store management on sales targets and objectives, and provides excellent service and grooming guidance to pet parents. The position requires maintaining grooming quality, safety, cleanliness, and sanitation standards, as well as operating and maintaining grooming tools and equipment.

Most duties take place indoors in the grooming salon. The environment can be noisy and wet, and the role involves frequent contact with pet parents and dogs, as well as collaboration with salon partners. 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.

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.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for interactions 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 a continuing career in pet grooming.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills for moderately complex situations.
• Results-driven focus on salon productivity, performance, growth, and improvement.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate, high-standard grooming services.
• 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 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 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 salon capacity and productivity, meet customer demand, and provide peak-hour coverage.
• Monitor salon performance metrics, analyze results, identify improvement opportunities, and develop action plans.
• Work with store management to meet sales targets and salon objectives and drive growth, customer-base expansion, and profitability.
• Provide professional customer service to pet parents, answer grooming questions, offer recommendations, and resolve concerns promptly.
• Keep grooming skills and team practices 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, according to customer instructions, breed standards, and company policies.
• Operate and maintain grooming instruments such as clippers, blades, shears, brushes, and dryers.
• Assess each pet’s coat, skin conditions, and temperament to determine individual needs.
• Educate pet parents and recommend grooming maintenance, home-care practices, and products.
• Monitor pets’ safety and well-being, recognize signs of discomfort, illness, or injury, and promptly report concerns to pet owners and store management.
• Maintain a clean and safe grooming area; disinfect and sanitize tools and equipment; complete daily and weekly cleaning and maintenance duties, including cleaning air filters, vents, and drains as assigned.
• Apply Petco grooming policies, standards, and guidelines and hold salon team members accountable for safety and quality.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, incentives based on salon performance, and tips.
• Medical, dental, vision, and other benefits.
• 401(k).
• Paid time off.
• Petco discounts.
• Supplies and 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