About Us
At Paws At Play, our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment where every dog thrives. We combine expert care with innovative enrichment programs to create a balance of play, learning, and rest—helping dogs become happier, healthier, and more confident.
Guided by compassion, professionalism, and a passion for excellence, we are dedicated to supporting pet parents with trusted services while fostering a strong sense of community built on the love of dogs. We also believe in our team, and we provide industry-leading education and training.
About the Position
Paws At Play Luxury Pet Resort is launching and growing our professional grooming program, and we are hiring full-time Pet Groomers for both our Raleigh, NC, and Youngsville, NC locations. Candidates with less experience but who are ready to assist in other areas of the business are encouraged to apply.
After successfully completing a 90-day probationary period, team members may be invited to join our grooming education program. Participants will continue their daycare responsibilities while spending approximately 5–10 hours most weeks on grooming coursework and hands-on practice. Each participant will have an assigned mentor through the online learning program, with an experienced senior groomer available to review their work and offer guidance.
Staff will progress from bathing and basic care, such as teeth and ear cleaning, to grooming and, over time, more complex work. The program is designed to be completed over several months.
Responsibilities
- The initial production goal is approximately 5 dogs per full grooming day, with appointment volume adjusted for breed, size, coat condition, service requested, behavior, and time needed to safely complete each groom. Quality and safe handling always come first.
- Cleaning and sanitizing the grooming area and equipment
- Inventory organization
- Appointment preparation
- Client follow-up and rebooking
- Taking before-and-after photos
- Grooming marketing content
- Helping develop grooming procedures and service standards.
Ideal Candidate
- Professional dog grooming experience
- Can provide their own professional clippers, scissors/shears, blades, attachments, and personal grooming tools.
- Strong dog-handling skills
- Knowledge of animal behavior
- Excellent customer service
- Compassionate approach to animal care
- Professional, dependable, and team-oriented
- If you don't have prior professional grooming experience, we have an education program available. You must complete a probationary period to start the grooming coursework.
Schedule
- This role requires Monday–Saturday availability for Morning and afternoon shifts
What We Offer
- $20/hour guaranteed base pay
- Uncapped production bonuses in addition to hourly wages
- $1,501–$2,000 weekly production: 10% bonus
- $2,001–$2,500: 15% bonus
- $2,501+: 20% bonus
- 100% of client tips go to the groomer
- Guaranteed hourly income while building clientele
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 50% employer contribution toward eligible health insurance after 90 days
- 401(k) with up to 3% company match
- Paid Time Off
- Employee pet-care benefits and discounts
- Existing client base and marketing support
Join us in building a grooming program centered on exceptional care, quality grooming, happy dogs, and trusted relationships with pet parents.
