Companion Animal Care Pro & Educator

Petco; Clayton (NC); On-site; USD 17,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Petco is seeking a Companion Animal Specialist to be the primary expert and advocate for the health and welfare of companion animals and aquatic life within the Pet Care Center. You will ensure top-quality care, educate customers, and support sales with strong operational discipline on the floor.

This role emphasizes animal welfare, teaching others, teamwork, and maintaining clean, compliant habitats while supporting revenue and inventory goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with or caring for companion animals and aquatic life.
• Strong knowledge of animal care, husbandry, and maintenance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to educate others and communicate effectively.
• Strong customer service mindset with an aptitude for selling behaviors.
• Basic business, math, and inventory management skills.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Completion and ongoing maintenance of the Petco Animal Care Certification Program required.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the health, safety, and proper care of all companion animals and aquatic life in accordance with Petco standards, policies, and procedures.
• Complete and verify required animal care tasks, including hourly animal health checks, wellness documentation, maintenance logs, and incident reports.
• Ensure proper handling, documentation, and care of relinquished and adoption animals.
• Serve as the primary resource for animal care education for customers and PCC partners.
• Adhere to and promote all safety, animal welfare, and loss prevention procedures.
• Deliver knowledgeable, compassionate, and solution-focused service to customers.
• Actively support customer interactions using Petco’s selling model.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, inclusion, and collaboration across the PCC.
• Mentor and educate partners on animal care standards, maintenance routines, and best practices.
• Maintain professional, clean, and well-presented animal habitats and aquatic areas.
• Support the achievement of department sales, margin, and shrink goals.
• Ensure merchandise is stocked, priced, and displayed to Petco standards, with a primary focus on companion animals and aquatics.
• Efficiently order live animals, supplies, and related merchandise in partnership with the sales team to support inventory integrity and business goals.
• Analyze inventory data and identify opportunities to improve in-stock levels, shrink, and operational efficiency.
• Participate in animal and aquatic-related physical inventory counts.
• Assist with opening and closing procedures as assigned.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as needed to support Pet Care Center operations.

Skills

Animal care

Customer service

Communication

Inventory management

Organization

Interpersonal skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Petco Animal Care Certification Program

Job description

Petco is seeking a Companion Animal Specialist to be the primary expert and advocate for the health and welfare of companion animals and aquatic life within the Pet Care Center. You will ensure top-quality care, educate customers, and support sales with strong operational discipline on the floor.

This role emphasizes animal welfare, teaching others, teamwork, and maintaining clean, compliant habitats while supporting revenue and inventory goals.