Grooming Academy Intern

Position Summary:

The Grooming Academy Internship at Joybound offers recent graduates of our Phase 2: Dog Grooming class with a 10-week paid opportunity to build hands on grooming skills and gain real world experience in a professional salon and instructional environment. Interns will perform tasks such as de-shedding, bathing, drying, brushing, and trimming dog coats and nails while expanding their knowledge of safe & sanitary grooming techniques using tools like dryers, blowers, brushes, scissors, and clippers. They will also support instructors and observe student interactions, contributing to salon operations, client communication, safety & cleanliness enforcement, and instructional support. By the end of the internship, participants will demonstrate stronger grooming proficiency, improved customer service, knowledge of salon & academy operations and foundational instructional skills that prepare them for future opportunities in grooming and education.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Interact and communicate with colleagues, volunteers, and the public in a manner that advances a culture of positivity, professionalism, trust, transparency, empathy, and excellence at Joybound.

Daily Responsibilities:

• De-shed, bathe, dry, brush, and trim dog coats and nails to meet Academy grooming expectations.
• Assist instructors with demonstrating and explaining bathing & grooming techniques to students.
• Build hands-on grooming experience with scissors and clippers under instructor guidance.
• Clean and sanitize grooming tools, equipment, and workstations.
• Greet clients, assist with dog intake, and return dogs post-service with professionalism.
• Communicate with clients, schedule appointments, and document service(s) details & notes on BusyPaws.
• Help monitor Grooming Academy activities to maintain safety, efficiency, and productivity of students and staff.

Periodic Responsibilities:

• Participate in performance check-ins and feedback sessions with grooming staff.
• Support client follow-ups to ensure satisfaction with services, documenting feedback on BusyPaws.
• Assist with organizing & preparing for group learning activities or grooming demonstrations.

Learning Outcomes

• Increased grooming skills and confidence with professional tools
• Improved client communication and customer service
• Exposure to grooming instruction and mentoring techniques
• Preparedness for employment in a grooming or academy setting