General Manager - Middletown, DE

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is a leading pet specialty retailer dedicated to helping pets live their best lives. With a rich history spanning over 60 years, Petco has become a trusted name "where the pets go" to find everything they need — from nutritious meals and engaging toys to trusted supplies and expert support from passionate pet people who understand the bond between pets and their owners. Petco is more than a retailer; it is a community that celebrates pet parenthood with an emphasis on health, safety, care, and joyful experiences for pets and their families. The company is proud to operate 1,500+ Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico, and Puerto Rico, along with over 250 Vetco Total Care hospitals, numerous preventive care clinics, and eight distribution centers. Their dedication to animal welfare is demonstrated through Petco Love, a nonprofit they've run since 1999, which supports thousands of local animal welfare groups and has helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals via in-store adoption events.

The role of General Manager at Petco is pivotal in carrying forward the company’s purpose. As a General Manager, you are entrusted to lead a high-performing Pet Care Center that prioritizes pets first, inspires partners, delights customers, and drives strong business results. This leadership position demands you to be the owner of the business, accountable for people, performance, and day-to-day processes, and to serve as a role model showcasing exceptional leadership qualities. You will nurture engaged teams that embody Petco’s core values including Pet First - Protect & Empower, Foster the Fun - Connect & Bond, and Let’s Go! Own & Commit.

The General Manager ensures that the Pet Care Center is a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for pets and pet parents alike. Leading with integrity, transparency, and a strong commitment to animal welfare, you will champion the health, safety, and humane care for all animals, ensuring all Petco standards and policies are met flawlessly. Your role will involve building an inclusive and energized team by attracting, hiring, training, coaching, and developing diverse talent across all roles. You will promote a positive culture of collaboration where partners feel engaged and empowered to grow, supporting them with continuous learning and career development opportunities.

On the business side, you will own the center’s operations, driving sales growth, profitability, and operational excellence. You will analyze financial and operational results, identify growth opportunities, and take decisive action to improve performance. Managing labor, payroll, and expenses to maximize productivity will be among your key responsibilities. Additionally, execution of merchandising, inventory, and store operations to brand and safety standards will be essential to your success.

As a representative of Petco in the community, you will lead local events, adoption initiatives, and partnerships which strengthen Petco’s impact on the lives of animals and their families. This role requires strong leadership in developing a robust leadership bench, fostering team accountability, and ensuring all partners contribute to the mission of delivering outstanding service and animal care. You will be expected to maintain operational excellence by ensuring store cleanliness, safety, loss prevention, and efficient administrative task completion.

This full-time position is primarily based in a retail Pet Care Center environment, requiring regular floor presence and direct engagement with partners, customers, and pets. Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays is necessary along with the physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds and support various operational duties. Petco prides itself on sustaining a culture of authenticity, inclusion, and teamwork—making it an inspiring workplace for anyone passionate about pets and delivering exceptional customer experiences. By joining Petco as a General Manager, you will find purpose-driven work with meaningful impacts, career growth alongside development opportunities, and a chance to lead a business that truly values doing what’s right for pets and people.