Pet Groomer & Salon Trainer

PetSmart Store Support Group, Inc.; Lancaster (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Weekly

Health & Wellness Benefits

401k Plan with company match

Paid Time off for full-time associates

Associate discounts

Tuition Assistance

Career pathing

Development opportunities

Job summary

PetSmart Store Support Group, Inc. is hiring a Salon Experience Lead to elevate our grooming services and enhance customer experiences. This role focuses on training and mentoring associates while ensuring top-quality service for pet parents.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of grooming experience and strong communication skills. You will lead the development of our grooming team and maintain operational standards within the salon.

Join us in creating memorable moments for pets and their owners!

Qualifications

• 2+ years grooming experience; may be asked to complete a technical exam.
• Flexibility in schedule with full-time availability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate associate development through training and mentoring.
• Maintain pet grooming standards and customer engagement.
• Promote salon sales and ensure compliance with store policies.

Skills

Grooming experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Technical proficiency

Tools

Grooming tools

Computer applications

Job description

Benefits that benefit you

• Paid Weekly
• Health & Wellness Benefits
• 401k Plan with company match
• Paid Time off for full-time associates
• Associate discounts
• Tuition Assistance
• Career pathing
• Development opportunities

Job Summary

PetSmart’s Salon Experience Lead (Groomer & Salon Trainer) is responsible for providing exceptional service to pet parents and supporting a high‑performing team while upholding the company’s vision, mission, values, and strategy. This role delivers professional quality services with an utmost focus on pet care and quality. The Salon Experience Lead supports the development of bathers and new stylists, guiding them through the entire pet stylist development program.

Essential Responsibilities

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following and may vary depending on store characteristics and needs:

People Leadership

• Facilitate the associate experience and support associate development through training, onboarding, mentoring, and coaching for growth, as well as providing feedback for performance reviews, disciplinary action and promotions.
• Develop new and existing associates through the bather and/or stylist certification process.
• Identify candidates internally for academy training to become stylists.
• Delegate and validate completion of daily salon tasks.
• Address and administer associate complaints and grievances.
• Recognize and celebrate associates driving overall engagement.

Salon and Overall Store Experience

• Responsible for pet parent experience and the outcomes of interactions conducted over the telephone, in person or online, and respond to general pet parent concerns.
• Greet and support pet parents, answer their questions and recommend wellness solutions based on the pets’ needs.
• Engage with pet parents at checkout to drive connection and rebooking.
• Communicate and drive pet parent engagement around marketing promotions.
• Utilize salon tools including the booking system and call logs to make reservations and conduct appointment calls.
• Maintain store standards and lead a culture of empowerment by ensuring compliance with policies, procedures (P&Ps) and the code of ethics.
• Independently perform the full menu of bath, brush and grooming services, and standalone services such as nail trims, teeth brushing and sanitary services in accordance with PetSmart’s bathing standards and procedures.
• Promote opportunities to grow salon sales to help achieve sales targets and productivity, and other relevant salon metrics.
• Maintain operational standards including cleanliness, sanitation, and humane conditions for all pets in the grooming area.
• Take immediate action and report when a sick or injured pet is identified; transport to the vet as needed.
• Maintain communication with Experience Leader on business trends and provide best practices for implementation.
• Communicate and report any facilities or supply needs to the Experience Leader or Leader on Duty.
• Recommend, inform and sell services and merchandise.
• Assist and work in other departments as required. Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

• 2+ years grooming experience; may be asked to complete a technical exam.
• Full‑time availability required; flexibility in schedule, able to work evenings, weekends and holidays as needed.
• Proficiency with tools, equipment and products to perform technical work safely.
• Proficiency in computer applications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to react under pressure and maintain composure.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail and safety measures.

Supervisory Responsibility

• No direct reports; guide and support the development of other associates.
• Provide feedback on associate performance to direct supervisor.

Essential Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Stand, walk, climb a ladder and use hands to handle, feel, hold, write, etc.; frequently reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk and hear; specific vision abilities required: depth perception. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally team lift or move more than 100 pounds.
• Occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts, wet environment with abundance of pet hair, moderate to high noise levels, and live animal handling.

Do what you love

Join us for a chance to make a meaningful impact every day. Whether it’s helping a customer choose their first fish, celebrating a pet’s birthday, or seeing the smile on a pet parent’s face after a fresh groom—you’ll create moments that matter. At PetSmart we cherish diversity and the unique perspectives of our 50,000 associates, all united by a passion for pets.

PetSmart is an Equal Opportunity Employer

PetSmart provides an equal opportunity for all associates and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We offer reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout our application process, upon request and as required by law.

This job summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work associates/leaders assigned to this job perform. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. You will be provided with a copy of a job description for the actual position you are hired into.

Exact base rate of pay will be based on relevant experience level, training, skills or knowledge and store location. Pay for this position is the greater of the base pay rate or groom pay (a designated percentage of the associate’s grooming sales based on the job code) and can vary by pay period. In no instance will PetSmart pay less than the local minimum wage. This position is also eligible for benefits, as described at https://benefits.petsmart.com/us/.

Applicants must be over the age of 18 (except in Montana or where otherwise required by local or state law).

The employer will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

For applicants in our Waterloo, San Francisco, or Los Angeles locations: Pursuant to the Waterloo and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, as well as the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, we will consider for employment, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in a manner consistent with the law.