Lead Counsel - Optical
About The Position
Serves as the lead legal advisor for Walmart and Sam’s Club Optical by developing trusted partnerships with executive leadership and providing strategic, risk-based counsel that supports business growth, innovation, and operational excellence across retail optical, eCommerce, managed vision care, and related healthcare initiatives. Aligns legal strategy with enterprise priorities while balancing business objectives, customer experience, and regulatory compliance. Leads a team of attorneys and legal professionals responsible for supporting the Optical business by setting strategic priorities, managing workloads, developing talent, fostering collaboration, and driving high-quality legal advice and execution. Coaches and mentors associates, builds organizational capability, and promotes a culture of integrity, inclusion, accountability, and continuous development. Provides legal counsel on a broad range of optical, healthcare, commercial, and regulatory matters, including optical dispensing laws, optician licensure, optometrist relationships, corporate practice of optometry, managed vision care, consumer protection, advertising, pricing, privacy, product safety, and compliance with applicable federal and state laws. Anticipates emerging legal and regulatory developments and advises business leaders on practical, business-focused solutions that enable informed decision-making. Leads legal support for strategic business initiatives, commercial transactions, and enterprise projects by negotiating and drafting complex agreements, developing legal guidance and standardized processes, and partnering with leaders across Merchandising, Operations, Compliance, Healthcare, Finance, Digital, and Supply Chain to deliver innovative and compliant business solutions. Directs the engagement and management of outside counsel by selecting and supervising external legal advisors, establishing matter strategy and budgets, evaluating performance, controlling legal spend, and ensuring high-quality, cost-effective legal services that align with the company’s business objectives and risk tolerance. Identifies, assesses, and manages legal and regulatory risks affecting Walmart and Sam’s Club Optical by developing enterprise risk mitigation strategies, advising on compliance programs and governance, supporting regulatory engagements, and partnering with senior leadership to implement effective controls while advancing strategic initiatives. Provides overall legal and organizational leadership by establishing the legal strategy for the Optical portfolio, driving operational excellence and continuous improvement, influencing enterprise initiatives, managing legal resources and budgets, and developing strong internal and external partnerships that advance Walmart’s and Sam’s Club’s healthcare and optical business objectives.
Requirements
- Strong healthcare regulatory background
- Proven ability to draft, review, and negotiate contracts
- Experience communicating effectively with executives
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Experience and comfort working within cross-functional teams
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards of integrity and ethical conduct
- Active bar membership in at least one U.S. state
- Commitment to ethical standards, integrity, and fostering a culture of compliance and accountability
- Law degree from an accredited law school
- 6 years’ experience in law
- License to practice law in at least one state
- 2 years’ experience leading cross-functional teams
Nice To Haves
- Optical industry experience is a plus
Responsibilities
- Serves as the lead legal advisor for Walmart and Sam’s Club Optical by developing trusted partnerships with executive leadership and providing strategic, risk-based counsel that supports business growth, innovation, and operational excellence across retail optical, eCommerce, managed vision care, and related healthcare initiatives.
- Aligns legal strategy with enterprise priorities while balancing business objectives, customer experience, and regulatory compliance.
- Leads a team of attorneys and legal professionals responsible for supporting the Optical business by setting strategic priorities, managing workloads, developing talent, fostering collaboration, and driving high-quality legal advice and execution.
- Coaches and mentors associates, builds organizational capability, and promotes a culture of integrity, inclusion, accountability, and continuous development.
- Provides legal counsel on a broad range of optical, healthcare, commercial, and regulatory matters, including optical dispensing laws, optician licensure, optometrist relationships, corporate practice of optometry, managed vision care, consumer protection, advertising, pricing, privacy, product safety, and compliance with applicable federal and state laws.
- Anticipates emerging legal and regulatory developments and advises business leaders on practical, business-focused solutions that enable informed decision-making.
- Leads legal support for strategic business initiatives, commercial transactions, and enterprise projects by negotiating and drafting complex agreements, developing legal guidance and standardized processes, and partnering with leaders across Merchandising, Operations, Compliance, Healthcare, Finance, Digital, and Supply Chain to deliver innovative and compliant business solutions.
- Directs the engagement and management of outside counsel by selecting and supervising external legal advisors, establishing matter strategy and budgets, evaluating performance, controlling legal spend, and ensuring high-quality, cost-effective legal services that align with the company’s business objectives and risk tolerance.
- Identifies, assesses, and manages legal and regulatory risks affecting Walmart and Sam’s Club Optical by developing enterprise risk mitigation strategies, advising on compliance programs and governance, supporting regulatory engagements, and partnering with senior leadership to implement effective controls while advancing strategic initiatives.
- Provides overall legal and organizational leadership by establishing the legal strategy for the Optical portfolio, driving operational excellence and continuous improvement, influencing enterprise initiatives, managing legal resources and budgets, and developing strong internal and external partnerships that advance Walmart’s and Sam’s Club’s healthcare and optical business objectives.
Benefits
- Competitive pay
- Performance-based bonus awards
- Medical coverage
- Vision coverage
- Dental coverage
- 401(k)
- Stock purchase
- Company-paid life insurance
- PTO (including sick leave)
- Parental leave
- Family care leave
- Bereavement
- Jury duty
- Voting
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- Company discounts
- Military Leave Pay
- Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
- PTO and/or PPTO that can be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes
- Live Better U is a Walmart-paid education benefit program for full-time and part-time associates in Walmart and Sam's Club facilities. Programs range from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, including English Language Learning and short-form certificates. Tuition, books, and fees are completely paid for by Walmart.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
