Store General Manager - Needham, MA

Petco • Needham, MA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

As a General Manager, you lead a high-performing Pet Care Center that puts pets first, inspires partners, delights customers, and delivers strong business results. You are accountable for people, performance, and process, and serve as a role model for effective leadership. You build engaged teams, drive profitable growth, and maintain high standards for animal care, safety, and customer experience.

The role combines people leadership, business performance, and operational excellence. You recruit, train, coach, and develop a diverse team; manage sales, profitability, labor, payroll, and expenses; and execute merchandising, inventory, safety, and administrative processes. You also represent Petco in the community through local events, adoption initiatives, and partnerships.

The position is primarily performed in a Pet Care Center retail environment, with regular presence on the sales floor. Most work is indoors, though occasional duties may involve leaving the store for bank deposits, merchandise transport, or community events. The job involves frequent standing and walking, bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting, including moving merchandise, supplies, or animals weighing up to 50 pounds. It also involves customer assistance and cashiering, working near animals and exposure to animal dander, odors, noises, and cleaning chemicals. Flexible availability is required to support store operating hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Limited travel may be required for training, meetings, or community engagement. This is a full-time position.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of management experience; retail leadership is preferred.
• Strong people leadership, coaching, and talent development skills.
• Solid business, financial, and operational acumen.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational abilities.
• Genuine passion for pets and customer service.
• Ability to safely lift and move merchandise, supplies, or animals weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Flexible availability to support operating hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Nice To Haves

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Retail leadership experience preferred.
• Completion of Petco leadership development programs may be required for internal candidates.

Responsibilities

• Champion the health, safety, and humane care of animals and ensure Petco standards and policies are followed.
• Create a welcoming and supportive environment for pets and pet parents.
• Build and lead an inclusive, energized team that delivers exceptional service.
• Attract, hire, train, coach, and develop talent across Pet Care Center roles.
• Develop a leadership bench and succession plan; manage performance, coaching, and accountability.
• Foster teamwork, inclusion, learning, growth, and career development.
• Drive sales growth, profitability, and operational excellence; analyze results and take action to improve performance.
• Manage labor, payroll, and expenses to maximize productivity and results.
• Execute merchandising, inventory, and operational processes to brand and safety standards.
• Review and act on reporting, audits, and Pet Care Center visits.
• Ensure safe opening and closing procedures and adherence to security protocols.
• Maintain store appearance, cleanliness, and safety standards.
• Protect pets, partners, and merchandise through loss prevention and inventory controls.
• Complete administrative, payroll, and inventory tasks accurately and on time.
• Represent Petco in the community through local events, adoption initiatives, and partnerships.
• Regularly engage with customers on the sales floor, provide assistance, and perform cashiering and point-of-sale transactions.

Benefits

• Growth opportunities through development programs and career pathways.
• Health and financial benefits, 401(k), incentives, and paid time off are referenced in the company benefits overview.

What This Job Offers

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