Grooming Instructor

Description

Full job description

Job Title: Grooming Instructor

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports To: Field Leadership; VP of Services; Director of Grooming

Pay: $31 - $33 per hour + bonus eligibility

Revised: July 2026

Job Summary

We are seeking an accomplished and motivated Grooming Instructor to supervise and instruct a team of grooming apprentices. This role combines advanced technical instruction with direct supervision, quality standards ownership, and hands-on grooming in a salon environment.

The ideal candidate is a master-level groomer who can teach, an experienced supervisor who can hold a standard, and a leader who is invested in building the next generation of Groombar talent.

Key Responsibilities

Apprentice Instruction and Technical Training

Provide technical skills training for a group of grooming apprentices

Ensure apprentices are able to groom at Groombar standards and achieve key performance indicator (KPI) goals upon graduation from the program

Conduct student grooming and written examinations

Partner with Field Leadership and the Director of Grooming to train new Lead Groomers in the job

Apprentice Supervision

Act as immediate supervisor for students while in the apprentice program

Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws, in consultation with Field Leadership and Human Resources

Recruit and select candidates for the apprentice program

Manage performance; plan, assign, and direct work; appraise performance; reward and discipline employees; address complaints and resolve problems

Ensure student responsibilities, authorities, and accountabilities are defined and understood

Interim Salon Supervision

Act as interim supervisor for bathers and groomers in the absence of a Lead Groomer or Salon Manager

Provide coaching, lead work direction, technical skills building, and quality supervision

Train and support skill development for bathers, and maintain grooming and bathing quality standards across the team

Model safe dog handling techniques and customer experience excellence

Perform regular quality checks on groomers and bathers

Participate in performance meetings and support team performance improvement

As needed, manage performance, including rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints, and resolving problems

Ensure employee responsibilities, authorities, and accountabilities are defined and understood

Address and resolve customer concerns, including making service corrections when needed

Grooming Services and Client Experience

Provide comprehensive grooming services in a salon environment

Greet customers and their dogs by name and communicate a best-estimate pick-up time

Perform a needs assessment for each assigned dog, evaluating the condition of eyes, ears, nails, teeth, coat, and skin

Suggest de-matting services, a short haircut, additional services, and products to customers based on that assessment, as appropriate

Describe benefits and options for all suggested add-ons, and communicate knowledgeably about all of Groombar's products and services, including nutrition, training, and dental cleaning

Obtain detailed instructions from customers regarding the haircut desired, take comprehensive notes, and record them in each customer's account for future reference

Clearly communicate fees associated with all services

Notify owners when service has been completed and ensure hourly contact occurs thereafter until the pet is picked up

Execute the GOTHEART strategy during every customer check-in, deliver exceptional customer service, and ensure a positive salon experience

Talent Selection

Partner with Human Resources to participate in the selection process for bather and groomer applicants

Operations and Performance

Maintain strong customer service standards and meet or exceed established goals

Adapt to changing priorities, including assisting and assigning walk-in grooming services

Communicate effectively and professionally with customers and team members

Salon Safety and Additional Duties

Ensure accuracy of release forms, kennel cards, and service documentation

Monitor pets for stress, health concerns, or behavioral changes and report as needed

Ensure kenneled pets are comfortable, safe, and have access to water

Check dogs hourly for any signs of stress

Communicate any health or safety concerns to management and pet owners

Ensure the salon environment is safe, clean, and free of hazards, and that equipment and tools are operating as intended

Respond appropriately to personnel or dog injuries, ensuring both employees and dogs receive prompt and appropriate medical care, and injuries are reported

Perform other salon-related duties as assigned by Field Leadership, as needed

Salon Maintenance and Compliance

Maintain a clean, safe, and organized grooming environment

Ensure completion of daily and weekly cleaning and sanitation lists

Respond appropriately to any pet or employee incidents, ensuring proper care and reporting

Compensation and Benefits

Bonus structure surrounding program performance and apprentice graduation outcomes

Ownership of a signature program with direct visibility to the VP of Services and Director of Grooming

Exclusive Professional Development Opportunity:

Work alongside a team of multi-award-winning international competition groomers with over 20 years of experience in advanced grooming techniques, salon leadership, and professional instruction, and help shape the standard every Groombar groomer is trained to.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Fast-paced grooming salon environment

Frequent interaction with dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments

Approximate percent per 8-hour workday:

Constant visual stimulation, including close vision (up to 100%)

Constant standing (up to 100%)

Constant contact with water, shampoos and other bathing products, and hair (up to 100%)

Frequent squatting, bending, reaching, pulling, and twisting (up to 60%)

Frequent lifting of dogs up to 30 pounds without assistance (up to 60%)

Occasional walking around building (up to 20%)

This is more than a grooming role; it is the opportunity to build the bench, set the standard, and leave a mark on the entire organization.

Benefits

401(k)

Dental insurance

Employee discount

Health insurance

Paid time off

Paid training

Vision insurance

I understand the description of this job and essential functions as given above. I also understand that all duties of this job are not described above, and that I will perform those indicated and other related duties as directed by my supervisor and management.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Positions supervised (direct reports): Grooming Apprentices; may provide lead work direction to bathers and groomers
• Certified Master Groomer or equivalent preferred
• Three years of previous experience as a dog groomer in a professional dog grooming salon setting desired
• One year of previous experience providing staff supervision in a grooming salon strongly preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Strong teaching, supervisory, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated skill with a variety of traditional and creative grooming techniques, including trimming, clipping, cutting, stripping, hand-stripping, brushing, and coloring or dyeing
• Able to successfully complete Groombar's skills assessment test, as administered by the VP of Services or Director of Grooming
• Knowledgeable of a wide variety of grooming tools, including brushes, combs, scissors, grooming clippers, rakes, mat knives, and grooming stripping knives
• Knowledgeable of a wide variety of dog breeds and dog breed standards
• Friendly, approachable, cooperative, flexible, and able to shift focus as needed
• Able to professionaly and effectively interact and communicate, verbally and in writing, with staff, customers, vendors, and the public from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Able to work independently and as part of a team, take initiative, prioritize and accurately perform multiple tasks, and efficiently meet deadlines and changing priorities
• Able to consistently demonstrate good judgment and decision-making skills