Assistant Manager

About the role

As an Assistant Manager, you play a critical leadership role in bringing Petco’s purpose to life. You support the General Manager in running a high-performing Pet Care Center, leading partners, caring for pets, and delivering exceptional customer experiences. You are a trusted leader on the sales floor, stepping in as the lead in the General Manager’s absence, and a role model who helps develop talent, drive results, and ensure operational excellence every day.

Responsibilities

• Pet First
  • Uphold Petco’s animal care standards, ensuring the health, safety, and proper handling of all animals.
  • Promote a safe, welcoming environment for pets, pet parents, and partners.
  • Act with integrity and care in every decision that impacts pets and their families.
• Foster the Fun
  • Lead, motivate, and engage store partners to deliver outstanding service and build customer loyalty.
  • Support hiring, onboarding, training, and ongoing development of store partners.
  • Provide timely coaching, feedback, and recognition to strengthen performance and engagement.
  • Maintain a clean, organized, and visually appealing store that reflects Petco’s brand and values.
• Let’s Go!
  • Support daily store operations to ensure smooth workflow and execution.
  • Drive sales, service, and operational goals by leading from the floor.
  • Monitor store performance metrics and share results and insights with the General Manager.
  • Assist with inventory control, merchandising execution, and promotional events.
  • Step into leadership responsibilities and decision-making in the absence of the General Manager.
  • Resolve escalated customer concerns quickly and professionally.
• People Leadership
  • Serve as a role model for Petco values, behaviors, and service standards.
  • Coach partners to strengthen selling skills, pet care knowledge, and customer engagement.
  • Support a positive, inclusive, and collaborative team culture.
  • Assist with performance management and accountability.
• Business & Operations
  • Execute merchandising standards and ensure accurate inventory levels.
  • Support labor efficiency, task prioritization, and operational routines.
  • Ensure compliance with all company policies, procedures, and safety standards.
  • Assist with additional duties as needed to support business needs.

What Success Looks Like

• Pets are healthy, safe, and cared for to Petco standards.
• Customers receive friendly, knowledgeable, and solution-focused service.
• Partners feel supported, coached, and motivated.
• The Pet Care Center runs smoothly, looks great, and consistently meets performance goals.

What You Bring

• Experience & Skills
  • 2+ years of retail experience, including supervisory or management experience.
  • Proven ability to lead, coach, and motivate a team.
  • Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Proficiency with point-of-sale systems and Microsoft Office applications.
  • Passion for animals and knowledge of pet care strongly preferred.

Essential Functions & Work Environment

• This role is primarily performed in a Pet Care Center retail environment.
• The Assistant Manager is expected to be regularly present on the sales floor, leading by example and engaging with partners, customers, and pets.
• Majority of work is conducted indoors; however, occasional duties may require leaving the Pet Care Center for tasks such as bank deposits, merchandise transport, or community events.
• The role requires frequent standing and walking, as well as bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting.
• Ability to safely lift and move merchandise, supplies, or animals weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Regular engagement with customers on the sales floor, including providing customer assistance and performing cashiering and point-of-sale transactions.
• Must be able to work in proximity to animals, including exposure to animal dander, odors, noises, and cleaning chemicals.
• Flexible availability to support Pet Care Center operating hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• This is a full-time position. Eligibility for full-time status is based on average hours worked, as defined by company policy and applicable law.
• A limited amount of travel may be required for training, meetings, or community engagement.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Purpose-driven work that makes a difference for pets and people.
• Hands-on leadership experience and career growth opportunities.
• A supportive, inclusive culture built on teamwork and authenticity.
• The chance to grow your leadership skills while having fun doing meaningful work.