Bather/Groomer Assistant

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Employee discounts
• Flexible schedule
• Training & development

General Description
An EarthWise Pet Bather/Grooming Assistant provides exceptional bathing and/or grooming services while ensuring pet safety. Responsible for providing outstanding service through friendly engagement with our guests in order to assist in finding healthy solutions for their pets.

Duties
The general duties of a EarthWise Pet Bather/Groomer Assistant, include but are not limited to:

• Completes grooming services such as, but not limited to brushing, bathing, conditioning, teeth cleaning, ear cleaning, anal gland expressions, and nail trims.
• Ensures the wellness and safety of pets at all times.
• Develops long-term relationships with customers by understanding their needs and recommending products and services that will keep their pet healthy and happy.
• Acts as a community outreach liaison to attract new customers to the store.
• Must have the ability to bathe all breeds, use correct products dependent on fur type, and the owners’ Preferences.
• Works in an organized and hygienic manner. Keeps work area and kennels free of hair and clutter and sanitizes tools and compartments between pets.
• Interacts with management and coworkers in a manner to make sure the salon runs smoothly and meets the highest expectations of service and product quality.
• Schedules appointments with customers around their schedule to ensure a great customer service experience.
• Identifies health issues or concerns in pets, such as ear infections, skin conditions or tooth decay and informs the pet owner and Salon Manager of any observations.
• Communicates with the Groomer and Salon Manager to correctly bathe and brush the pet in alignment with the customers’ requests.
• Completes and maintains customer information and necessary forms as required to document accurate pet history.
• Facilitates and handles the pet for the duration of the bathing process to contribute to an efficient grooming appointment.
• Dries the pets while operating a high velocity dryer and/or a standing dryer as directed.
• Assists The Salon Manager to maintain inventory by reporting stock levels.
• Interacts with Manager and coworkers in a manner to make sure the salon runs smoothly and meets the highest expectations of service and product quality.
• Performs routine cleaning to maintain the grooming environment.
• Assists store team members during grooming downtime.
• Schedules appointments with customers around their schedule to ensure a great customer service experience.
• Completes and maintains customer information and necessary forms as required to document accurate pet history.
• Adheres to all Earthwise Pet’s safety standards, rules, and procedures.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Positive, helpful attitude
• Passion for pets
• Inquisitiveness and desire to learn
• Promotes a positive team environment by sharing knowledge and educating other team members. Engages with team members in a positive, professional, and supportive manner
• Highly accountable and has integrity

- Education and/or Experience - High school diploma or general education degree (GED); in addition to a minimum of 2 years of grooming experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Language Skills – Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-onone and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
• Mathematical Skills – Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, and percentages.
• Computer Skills – To perform this job successfully, an individual should be proficient in personal computer skills including electronic mail, record keeping, routine database activity. The individual must have the ability to enter information correctly in a computer system.

- Other Qualifications - Grooming certification is preferred from the National Dog Groomer Association of America.

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift and/or move items up to and over 45 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the individual frequently moves about the store to engage with customers, their pets, and communicate with other team members. The individual constantly interacts with customers and employees to answer questions, resolve issues, and contribute to a welcoming environment. The individual frequently moves the pet from the floor to the grooming and bathing station. The individual must be comfortable when working with different pets. The individual is responsible for moving up to 50 pounds occasionally and regularly moving up to 20 pounds. The individual is responsible for operating various grooming tools including, but not limited to; scissors, trimmers, dryers, etc. The individual must be able to detect condition of the pet to provide necessary grooming in close distances. The individual must be capable of restraining, guiding, communicating, and supervising a variety of pets for the duration their visit. The individual is responsible for cleaning all areas inside the salon and will frequently position self to inspect product and assist with equipment, including near the ground. The individual frequently ascends/descends a ladder to access the grooming room. The individual must be able to detect condition of the pet to provide necessary grooming in close distances. The individual must operate a computer system to ensure that the information from past services is inputted correctly.

Job Requirements

• Attendance- Attendance refers to the consistency that an employee shows in turning up for work and completing their normal work hours.
• Technical Skills- Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of accomplishment
• Customer Service- Refers to the ability to satisfy the expectations and requirements of customers. Displays courtesy and sensitivity and responds promptly to service requests. Identifies customer needs and explains services clearly. Handles difficult situations.
• Work Quality- Work quality refers to the effort that consistently achieves desired outcomes with a minimum of avoidable errors and problems. • Attention to Detail - Diligently attends to details and pursues quality in accomplishing tasks.
• Accountability- Makes reasonable estimates of resource needs to achieve goals or complete projects for individual and team members. Uses sound methods to plan and track work, appointments, and commitments. Evaluates progress on tasks and adjusts work style as needed.

General: Customer/Guest service and retail experience, preferably in the pet industry. Knowledge of pet related products. Demonstrated competency with computerized point of sale and inventory control systems.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a variable hour position, days and hours of work will vary. This position requires the flexibility to work within our normal store operating hours, including before and/or after hours and weekends. Overtime may be required at times.

Travel: Occasional travel to other stores, meetings and events, at times before or after hours, is expected with this position.

Required Education/Experience:
Other Duties
Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

While performing the duties of this job, the individual is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. The individual frequently works in a controlled climate. Individuals are required to wear personal protective equipment as situations dictate on various job duties. Due to exposure of bodily fluids from animals, employees are required to wear personal protective equipment. The individual is required to wear gloves to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.