Pet Shop Assistant Manager – Specialty Pet Retail & Nutrition (Austin, TX)
Help dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives—by leading a team that truly cares.
Paws on Chicon is a locally owned, nationally recognized specialty pet food & supply company built around one mission: helping pets live their best and longest lives through better nutrition and education. Yelp recognized us as one of the Top 100 Local Businesses in the USA for 2024, and we continue to grow thoughtfully across Austin.
We are seeking an experienced Assistant Manager with a background in specialty retail who is ready to lead a team with confidence, integrity, and hands-on involvement.
This role is ideal for an assistant manager who understands the difference between big-box pet retail and independent specialty retail, and who leads through coaching, accountability, and example.
This Role Is a Great Fit If You:
- Have retail management experience, ideally in a specialty or independent pet store
- Lead from the floor and aren’t afraid to be hands-on
- Enjoy training, coaching, and developing people
- Know how to set clear expectations and hold a team accountable
- Care deeply about customer experience and education-based selling
- Are organized, detail-oriented, and operationally strong
- Thrive in a fast-paced retail environment
- Take pride in being reliable, prepared, and professional
What You’ll Do:
- Assist in leading daily store operations, including sales, staffing, merchandising, and inventory
- Train and coach team members to sell using our education-first, nutrition-focused approach
- Maintain high standards for cleanliness, merchandising, and organization
- Receive and process shipments; restock and merchandise product
- Serve customers directly—asking thoughtful questions and guiding product selection
- Support customer loyalty through enrollment in our free rewards program
- Make and serve our in-house doggy & kitty froyo
- Model professionalism, teamwork, and leadership every day
Specialty Pet Retail & Nutrition Experience (Highly Valued):
- Experience discussing pet food ingredients, sourcing, and quality
- Comfort guiding customers and staff through food transitions
- Familiarity with dry, wet, frozen, freeze-dried, or raw diets
- Knowledge of supplements and holistic wellness products
- Commitment to trust-based, consultative selling—not pressure tactics
Qualifications:
- Retail management experience required
- Minimum 2 years of retail sales experience
- Minimum 1 years of supervisory or management experience
- Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills
- Experience with scheduling, POS systems, cash handling, and inventory
- Ability to lift and stock large bags of pet food
- Ability to work a full-time schedule in a retail environment
What We Offer:
- Starting pay from $18.75 - $20.00/hour, based on experience
- Full-time (35+ hours/week)
- Paid overtime
- Weekly pay
- Free monthly pet food
- Generous employee discount
- Profit sharing
- Paid time off
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with 5% employer match
- Leadership support and opportunities for advancement within a growing local company
Hiring for our Easton Park location (assistant managers may occasionally support other stores as needed). Apply today and let’s talk about what makes you the right leader for this role.
Our Fair Chance Hiring Policy
At Paws on Chicon, we believe in transparency and second chances.
- A background check may be conducted after a conditional job offer
- Past convictions do not automatically disqualify candidates
- We consider relevance, timing, and context
- You will have the opportunity to review and provide additional information
All information is kept confidential and used only for hiring purposes
Pay: From $18.75 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Which best describes your retail management experience?
I have managed a retail store or department and led a team
I have been a keyholder or shift lead, but not the primary manager
I have retail experience but no management experience
I do not have retail experience
- What best describes your experience in pet retail?
I have worked in specialty or independent pet retail
I have worked in big-box pet retail
I have worked in pet retail in a limited or temporary capacity
I do not have pet retail experience
- Which best describes your leadership approach?
Hands-on leader who coaches, sets expectations, and holds the team accountable
Supportive leader who primarily leads through encouragement
Leader who focuses mainly on administrative or behind-the-scenes tasks
I am still developing my leadership style
- How comfortable are you leading a team in nutrition-focused, education-based selling?
Very comfortable—I regularly coach staff on pet food, ingredients, and food transitions
Somewhat comfortable—I have experience but continue learning
Not very comfortable—I rely on provided scripts or materials
I have little experience in this area
- Are you able to work a full-time retail schedule and occasionally support multiple Austin locations as needed?
- What do you believe is the most important role of a store manager in specialty pet retail?
- Why do you want to lead a team in a speciality pet retail environment specifically?
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Work Location: In person
