Full-time Pet Care Grooming Technician - 2nd shift (9:30A-6:00P)

Kennelwood-Pet-Resorts; Glen Carbon Crossing (IL); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Kennelwood Pet Resorts in Maryville, IL, is seeking a Pet Care Grooming Technician to assist our Grooming Stylists and prepare dogs and cats for their services. This 2nd shift, full-time position offers hands-on grooming duties, including bathing, drying, brushing, nail care, and safe handling of pets.

No prior grooming experience is required; Kennelwood will provide training on procedures, animal handling, equipment, sanitation, and safety.

Qualifications

• Genuine enjoyment of hands-on work with animals.
• Patient, compassionate and attentive care for pets.
• Comfortable handling dogs and cats of various sizes and temperaments.
• Able to follow detailed grooming and pet-care instructions.
• Willing to learn bathing, drying, brushing, nail care, ear cleaning, and other grooming tasks.
• Pays close attention to changes in a pet’s behavior, skin, coat, or condition.
• Reliable team player who responds well to coaching and direction.

Responsibilities

• Prepare dogs and cats for scheduled grooming services.
• Safely bathe pets using appropriate shampoos and techniques.
• Dry, brush, and comb pets based on coat type and requested services.
• Perform basic grooming tasks as trained (nail trimming, paw-pad cleaning, ear cleaning).
• Assist Grooming Stylists with pet preparation and related activities.
• Monitor pets for signs of stress, discomfort, or medical concerns during services.
• Safely handle and position pets of different sizes and temperaments.
• Follow service instructions and special handling requirements.
• Keep grooming areas, tubs, tables, and tools clean and organized.
• Maintain grooming and pet-care records and communicate with staff.

Skills

Animal care

Patience & empathy

Team player

Attention to detail

Willingness to learn grooming tasks

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Pet Care Grooming Technician

Kennelwood Pet Resorts – Maryville

Status: Full-Time
Shift: 2nd shift - 9:30AM-6:00PM
Expected Days: available 7 days a week, including holidays

Love animals and enjoy hands-on work?

Kennelwood Pet Resorts is looking for Pet Care Grooming Technicians to help provide safe, compassionate, and attentive grooming care for dogs and cats.

As a Grooming Technician, you’ll work hands‑on with pets while supporting our Grooming Stylists and helping prepare pets for their scheduled services. You’ll learn Kennelwood’s procedures for bathing, drying, brushing, grooming preparation, animal handling, and basic grooming services while helping create a safe and positive experience for every pet in our care.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with animals, isn’t afraid to get a little wet or covered in pet hair, and takes pride in doing detailed, physical work.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare dogs and cats for scheduled grooming services.
• Safely bathe pets using appropriate shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and bathing techniques.
• Dry, brush, and comb pets based on their coat type, condition, and requested services.
• Perform basic grooming services as trained and assigned, including nail trimming, paw-pad cleaning, ear cleaning, and anal gland expression.
• Assist Grooming Stylists with pet preparation and other grooming-related activities.
• Monitor pets throughout grooming services for signs of stress, discomfort, illness, injury, or behavioral concerns.
• Safely handle, leash, move, and position dogs and cats of different sizes, breeds, temperaments, and activity levels.
• Follow individual service instructions and special handling requirements carefully.
• Keep grooming areas, tubs, tables, kennels, tools, equipment, and workstations clean, sanitary, and organized.
• Complete laundry and help maintain clean towels, grooming materials, and other necessary supplies.
• Maintain accurate grooming and pet‑care documentation and communicate important information to Grooming Stylists and leadership.
• Professionally interact with pet parents when assigned and help provide a positive guest experience.
• Support other Kennelwood teams and operational responsibilities as needed based on training and business needs.

What We’re Looking For

Previous professional grooming experience is not required. Kennelwood will provide training on the procedures, animal-handling expectations, equipment, sanitation standards, and safety practices needed to perform the Grooming Technician role.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Genuinely enjoys working hands‑on with animals.
• Is patient, compassionate, and attentive when caring for pets.
• Is comfortable working with both dogs and cats of different sizes, breeds, temperaments, and coat conditions.
• Can follow detailed grooming and pet‑care instructions accurately.
• Is willing to learn bathing, drying, brushing, nail care, ear cleaning, and other Groom Tech responsibilities.
• Pays close attention to changes in a pet’s behavior, skin, coat, or physical condition.
• Knows when to ask questions or communicate a concern.
• Understands that grooming involves plenty of cleaning, sanitation, laundry, and workspace maintenance.
• Is dependable, works well as part of a team, and responds positively to coaching and direction.

A high school diploma or GED and previous experience in grooming, boarding, veterinary care, animal shelters, daycare, training, or another hands‑on pet‑care environment are preferred, but not required.

Schedule & Availability

Kennelwood’s grooming schedule is based on guest appointments, staffing, seasonal needs, and business demand.

Grooming Technician positions may be full‑time or part‑time. Schedules may include weekdays, early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak grooming periods. Team members must maintain availability consistent with the requirements of their assigned position and schedule.

Requirements

Physical Requirements

Grooming is active, hands‑on work. Team members should be comfortable:

• Standing and walking for extended periods.
• Frequently bending, stooping, reaching, stretching, kneeling, and crouching.
• Regularly lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or safely handling approximately 40 pounds and occasionally up to approximately 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Safely handling and positioning dogs and cats of varying sizes, breeds, temperaments, and activity levels.
• Performing repetitive hand, wrist, arm, and upper-body movements associated with bathing, brushing, drying, nail care, cleaning, and grooming preparation.
• Working around water and wet or slippery surfaces.
• Working around barking and other loud noises, animal hair and dander, shampoos and grooming products, cleaning products, animal waste, bodily fluids, and live animals.
• Understanding that working directly with animals may involve scratches, bites, sudden movement, and other risks associated with pet care and grooming.

Ready to Join the Kennelwood Pack?

If you love animals, enjoy active and hands‑on work, and want to develop practical grooming and pet‑care skills, we’d love to meet you.