Dog Groomer - Palmerston North

Who are we?

At Animates, we’re passionate about helping pet parents give their pets the happiest, healthiest lives possible. Animates is New Zealand’s largest pet care specialist, with 48 retail stores, 27 grooming salons and 15 vet clinics working together across communities to support the wellbeing of pets. Every day our teams empower pet parents with trusted advice, quality products, and expert services so they can make informed decisions for the animals they love.

We're looking for an experienced Dog Groomer to join our recently refurbished grooming salon on Palmerston North. This is a full-time permanent position, working Tuesdays to Saturdays, 40 hours per week.

About the role

As an experienced Groomer you will be crucial to the success of our Palmerston North grooming salon.

You’ll provide an ‘Paw-some Experience’ to our customers and their furry friends by ensuring grooms are completed to the highest standard all whilst keeping the salon clean and hygienic.

With a large variety of grooming services available, it’s important you are confident with correct bathing, brushing and cutting techniques for all coat types.

To be successful you'll need

• Enthusiasm and passion for the care and wellbeing of pets
• Previous dog grooming experience (2+ years in a high-volume salon preferred)
• An exceptionally friendly manner to engage customers, build a regular client base and grow sales
• Excellent time management and communication skills
• High work standards and ethics

What we offer

• Tailored career development – whether you're interested in leadership or becoming a puppy school trainer, we offer a range of progression pathways and hands-on support to help you grow in the direction that suits you best
• Generous discounts at our retail stores and vet clinics
• Parental leave benefits to support your growing family
• Give back to your chosen charities through our ‘Paws for Good’ volunteer leave
• Paid bereavement leave following the loss of a pet
• Access to free counselling through our Employee Assistance Programme
• Stability. Be part of a business that’s growing and thriving

Why you'll love Animates

We’re proud to offer a genuinely supportive and inclusive culture, where our leaders care deeply about the wellbeing of their teams and everyone lives our values of passion, authenticity, care, knowledge, and togetherness. As a Rainbow Tick Certified Employer, we encourage you to bring your whole self to work.

We’re also honoured to be the first organisation in Aotearoa to achieve Gold level recognition in the Mental Health First Aid Workplace Recognition Programme. This reflects how seriously we take mental health and wellbeing—through training our people in Mental Health First Aid, creating safe and open environments to talk, and making sure everyone feels supported, connected, and able to look out for one another every day.

If you share our love for the pet parents we serve, the merchandise we sell, and the work we do, this is a place for you to build a rewarding career!