{"id":1718332,"url":"https://alion.io/job/earthwise-pet-grooming-instructor-2","title":"Grooming Instructor","company":{"id":2168881,"name":"EarthWise Pet","domain":"earthwisepet.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/earthwisepet","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Paylocity","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":100,"open_postings":3,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":26,"computed_at":"2026-11-09T06:03:00Z"}},"role":"Education","role_family":"Education","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Wheaton, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":45000,"max_usd":89000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":618},"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-24T18:33:02Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-02","last_verified_at":"2026-11-09T10:54:53Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":76,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":76},"description":"Description\nFull job description\nJob Title: Grooming Instructor\nJob Type: Full-Time, Exempt\nReports To: Field Leadership; VP of Services; Director of Grooming\nPay: per hour + up to $60 commission\nRevised: July 2026\nJob Summary\nWe 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.\nThe 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.\nKey Responsibilities\nApprentice Instruction and Technical Training\nProvide technical skills training for a group of grooming apprentices\nEnsure apprentices are able to groom at Groombar standards and achieve key performance indicator (KPI) goals upon graduation from the program\nConduct student grooming and written examinations\nPartner with Field Leadership and the Director of Grooming to train new Lead Groomers in the job\nApprentice Supervision\nAct as immediate supervisor for students while in the apprentice program\nCarry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws, in consultation with Field Leadership and Human Resources\nRecruit and select candidates for the apprentice program\nManage performance; plan, assign, and direct work; appraise performance; reward and discipline employees; address complaints and resolve problems\nEnsure student responsibilities, authorities, and accountabilities are defined and understood\nInterim Salon Supervision\nAct as interim supervisor for bathers and groomers in the absence of a Lead Groomer or Salon Manager\nProvide coaching, lead work direction, technical skills building, and quality supervision\nTrain and support skill development for bathers, and maintain grooming and bathing quality standards across the team\nModel safe dog handling techniques and customer experience excellence\nPerform regular quality checks on groomers and bathers\nParticipate in performance meetings and support team performance improvement\nAs needed, manage performance, including rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints, and resolving problems\nEnsure employee responsibilities, authorities, and accountabilities are defined and understood\nAddress and resolve customer concerns, including making service corrections when needed\nGrooming Services and Client Experience\nProvide comprehensive grooming services in a salon environment\nGreet customers and their dogs by name and communicate a best-estimate pick-up time\nPerform a needs assessment for each assigned dog, evaluating the condition of eyes, ears, nails, teeth, coat, and skin\nSuggest de-matting services, a short haircut, additional services, and products to customers based on that assessment, as appropriate\nDescribe 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\nObtain detailed instructions from customers regarding the haircut desired, take comprehensive notes, and record them in each customer's account for future reference\nClearly communicate fees associated with all services\nNotify owners when service has been completed and ensure hourly contact occurs thereafter until the pet is picked up\nExecute the GOTHEART strategy during every customer check-in, deliver exceptional customer service, and ensure a positive salon experience\nTalent Selection\nPartner with Human Resources to participate in the selection process for bather and groomer applicants\nOperations and Performance\nMaintain strong customer service standards and meet or exceed established goals\nAdapt to changing priorities, including assisting and assigning walk-in grooming services\nCommunicate effectively and professionally with customers and team members\nSalon Safety and Additional Duties\nEnsure accuracy of release forms, kennel cards, and service documentation\nMonitor pets for stress, health concerns, or behavioral changes and report as needed\nEnsure kenneled pets are comfortable, safe, and have access to water\nCheck dogs hourly for any signs of stress\nCommunicate any health or safety concerns to management and pet owners\nEnsure the salon environment is safe, clean, and free of hazards, and that equipment and tools are operating as intended\nRespond appropriately to personnel or dog injuries, ensuring both employees and dogs receive prompt and appropriate medical care, and injuries are reported\nPerform other salon-related duties as assigned by Field Leadership, as needed\nSalon Maintenance and Compliance\nMaintain a clean, safe, and organized grooming environment\nEnsure completion of daily and weekly cleaning and sanitation lists\nRespond appropriately to any pet or employee incidents, ensuring proper care and reporting\nCompensation and Benefits\nBonus structure surrounding program performance and apprentice graduation outcomes\nOwnership of a signature program with direct visibility to the VP of Services and Director of Grooming\nExclusive Professional Development Opportunity:\nWork 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.\nWork Environment and Physical Requirements\nFast-paced grooming salon environment\nFrequent interaction with dogs of all breeds, sizes, and temperaments\nApproximate percent per 8-hour workday:\nConstant visual stimulation, including close vision (up to 100%)\nConstant standing (up to 100%)\nConstant contact with water, shampoos and other bathing products, and hair (up to 100%)\nFrequent squatting, bending, reaching, pulling, and twisting\nFrequent lifting of dogs up to 30 pounds without assistance\nOccasional walking around building \nThis 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.\nBenefits\n401(k)\nDental insurance\nEmployee discount\nHealth insurance\nPaid time off\nPaid training\nVision insurance\nRequirements\nQualifications\nPositions supervised (direct reports): Grooming Apprentices; may provide lead work direction to bathers and groomers\nCertified Master Groomer or equivalent preferred\nThree years of previous experience as a dog groomer in a professional dog grooming salon setting desired\nOne year of previous experience providing staff supervision in a grooming salon strongly preferred\nSkills and Abilities\nStrong teaching, supervisory, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills\nDemonstrated skill with a variety of traditional and creative grooming techniques, including trimming, clipping, cutting, stripping, hand-stripping, brushing, and coloring or dyeing\nAble to successfully complete Groombar's skills assessment test, as administered by the VP of Services or Director of Grooming\nKnowledgeable of a wide variety of grooming tools, including brushes, combs, scissors, grooming clippers, rakes, mat knives, and grooming stripping knives\nKnowledgeable of a wide variety of dog breeds and dog breed standards\nFriendly, approachable, cooperative, flexible, and able to shift focus as needed\nAble to professionally and effectively interact and communicate, verbally and in writing, with staff, customers, vendors, and the public from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds\nAble to work independently and as part of a team, take initiative, prioritize and accurately perform multiple tasks, and efficiently meet deadlines and changing priorities\nAble to consistently demonstrate good judgment and decision-making skills","description_format":"text","description_chars":7853,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Dental insurance","Health insurance","Professional development","Vision 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