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.
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