Junior Groomer

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc.; City of Mount Vernon (NY); On-site; USD 13,776 - 29,618; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401k plan

Paid Time Off

Employee discounts

Supplies and equipment provided

Job summary

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. seeks a Junior Pet Stylist to learn and perform grooming tasks such as bathing and nail trimming while supervising seasoned groomers. Throughout a ten-week training program, you will gain hands-on experience and develop essential skills for a future career in grooming.

This position emphasizes animal care and customer service. We offer competitive pay, medical benefits, and opportunities for growth. Candidates should be passionate about animals and have effective communication skills.

Qualifications

• 0-1 year of animal-related experience, including shelter volunteering or pet sitting.
• Genuine passion for animals and desire to pursue a career in pet grooming.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Learn and perform grooming tasks such as bathing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning.
• Ensure the well-being and safety of every animal in the salon at all times.
• Interact professionally with pet parents and provide optimal customer service.

Skills

Animal handling

Customer service

Basic grooming techniques

Education

High school diploma or GED preferred

Job description

Your Petco Grooming Career

Begin your Petco journey as a Junior Pet Stylist in Grooming!

During this ten‑week training period as a Junior Pet Stylist, you will learn fundamental grooming tasks such as brushing, bathing, drying, cutting nails, and more! Gaining hands‑on experience with guidance from seasoned groomers, our industry leading program is designed to develop essential grooming skills and set the foundation for your future career with Petco Grooming.

In addition to our commitment to continuous training, development, and career growth, we also offer:

• Competitive base pay
• Medical, dental, vision and more
• 401k and more
• Paid Time Off
• Petco Discounts
• All the supplies & equipment you need, including, brushes, nail trimmers, clippers, blades, shampoo, sprays, tools, etc.
• State of the art equipment, including bathing system, kennels, tables, and dryers

Purpose

The Junior Pet Stylist's primary purpose is to learn how to perform the following services: bathing, drying, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning, alongside seasoned groomers. In addition to bathing and drying services, the Junior Pet Stylist will assist in the grooming process, prioritizing the comfort, safety, and well‑being of the pets in our care and delivering optimal customer services to pet parents. This is an excellent opportunity for those passionate about animals and grooming to start their career in the pet care industry.

Essential Job Functions

The incumbent must be able to consistently perform all the following duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Under close supervision of experienced groomers, perform limited grooming services including bathing, drying, nail trimming, brushing, ear cleaning, and gland cleaning according to the pet parents’ instructions and in adherence to company policies and procedures.
• Ensure the well‑being and safety of every animal in the salon at all times.
• Interact professionally and effectively with pet parents, provide optimal customer service, address grooming related inquiries and provide timely resolution.
• Maintain a clean and safe grooming area and salon, disinfect and sanitize grooming tools and equipment, perform daily and weekly cleaning duties in the salon and in adherence to Petco hygiene and sanitation policies, other cleaning and maintenance tasks as assigned, including but not limited to cleaning air filters, vents, and drains.
• Schedule grooming appointments, manage paperwork, and maintain accurate grooming records.
• Learn and adhere to Petco's grooming policies, standards, and guidelines to ensure safety, quality, and consistency in all activities and areas of the grooming business.

Training Program Outline

• Weeks 1-3: Learning and On-the-Job Training
  • Learn dog behavior, pet and self‑safety, proper check‑in/out procedures, customer service, grooming policies, and begin on‑the‑job training in bathing and drying techniques.
• Weeks 3-10: Performing and Achieving Productivity
  • Perform bathing and walk‑in services while achieving weekly productivity goals.

Education & Experience

• 0-1 year of animal related experience, including shelter volunteering or pet sitting, prior grooming salon assistance is preferred.
• High‑school diploma or GED is preferred, though not required.
• Genuine passion for animals and a desire to pursue a career in pet grooming.
• Basic understanding of dog breeds, behavior, and common grooming practices.
• Capable of handling pets of all sizes and temperaments with care and empathy.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills for interactions with pet parents and grooming team members.
• Availability to work weekends, evenings, and holidays, as required by the Pet Care Center’s grooming schedule.

Work Environment

The majority of job duties are conducted indoors in the grooming salon. Position requires bending, kneeling, lifting (up to 30 pounds, as necessary) and standing for long periods of time. Position may require exposure to heights using a two‑step ladder or other support tools, such as vacuums, to perform assigned cleaning and maintenance duties. A large amount of this partner’s time will be spent in direct contact with our pet parents and their dogs, and the remaining time will be with the other salon partners. The work environment can be noisy and wet.

Hourly or Salary Range will be reflected above. For a more detailed overview of Petco Total Rewards, including health and financial benefits, 401K, incentives, and PTO - see https://careers.petco.com/us/en/key-benefits

Salary Range: $10.00 - $21.50

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.