Optical Associate, Non-Certified – Sam’s Club

Sam's West • Rapid City, SD

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Optical Associate maintains merchandise presentation and the sales floor in the Optical area by stocking, organizing, pricing, and securing products; handling claims and returns; and identifying damaged or high-shrink merchandise. The associate receives and stocks Optical merchandise, maintains the area and related documentation, and may handle hearing aid inventory and transactions as needed. The role also operates point-of-sale equipment and assists members with purchases, payments, returns, refunds, and exchanges.

The associate sells and supports Optical products and services by advising members on eyewear use and care, assisting with contact lens insertion and removal, identifying prescription information, completing eyewear and contact lens orders, and measuring, adjusting, and repairing frames and lenses. Duties include measuring pupillary distance and position of wear, performing final eyewear inspections, troubleshooting non-adapt issues, monitoring trial lens inventory, and maintaining, calibrating, and troubleshooting optical equipment. The associate communicates with laboratories and optometrists about orders, product updates, and job status.

As needed and under the guidance of a contracted or associate optometrist, the associate may perform pre-testing and record results. The position supports OD services, schedules and confirms appointments, collects payments, handles applicable insurance claims and payments, and maintains records in accordance with HIPAA and company procedures. The associate completes required training and obtains and maintains applicable registrations, certifications, and licensure. The role also involves teamwork, mentoring and supporting others, implementing business processes, and promoting company policies, ethics, and values.

The position is based at Sam’s Club, 925 Eglin St, Rapid City, South Dakota. The hourly wage range is $19.50 to $27.50, with possible premiums of $0.35 to $3.00 per hour in specified circumstances. The actual rate will equal or exceed the applicable local minimum wage.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent upon job entry or within 12 months of hire to sit for the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) exam.
• Meet applicable requirements to work as an Optical associate, including minimum age and any required qualification, registration, certification, or licensure.
• Obtain ABO certification within 15 months of hire or job entry.
• Be willing and able to work with the Manager to register and maintain an NPI number when required by state law.
• In states with licensing or registration requirements, meet or be able to satisfy state requirements to become an apprentice optician and licensed optician.
• In licensed/registered states, obtain state-required optician licensure within 18 months of hire or job entry for full-time associates, unless state requirements mandate additional training hours.
• Complete applicable state licensure requirements and obtain optician licensure within 3 months of completing the state's minimum apprenticeship hours.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a health care or retail setting.

Responsibilities

• Maintain merchandise presentation by stocking, setting up, cleaning, and organizing displays; removing damaged goods; signing and pricing merchandise; and securing fragile and high-shrink items.
• Maintain the Optical sales floor in accordance with company policies, including handling claims and returns, zoning, organizing merchandise, and identifying shrink and damages.
• Receive and stock Optical merchandise and maintain the area, equipment, merchandising, paperwork, logs, and other documentation.
• As needed, receive, audit, and maintain hearing aid inventory and process hearing aid sales and refunds through the POS system.
• Operate registers and related hardware and process member purchases, payments, returns, refunds, and exchanges according to applicable procedures.
• Educate members on eyewear use and care and support contact lens insertion, removal, and hygiene guidance.
• Assist members with Optical purchasing decisions; measure, adjust, and repair frames and lenses; complete eyewear and contact lens orders; and identify and verify prescription information.
• Measure pupillary distance and position of wear for different lens types using manual and digital systems.
• Perform frame adjustments and repairs and conduct final eyewear inspections, including compound prism verification.
• Troubleshoot member non-adapt issues and communicate with laboratories and optometrists about job status, product updates, and expired lens reordering.
• Process eyewear and contact lens orders, monitor trial lens inventory, and ensure optical equipment is calibrated and clean.
• Troubleshoot optical equipment failures and coordinate repairs.
• As needed and under optometrist guidance, complete patient appointments, perform pre-testing, and record results.
• Support OD services and collect payments for doctor and telehealth services.
• Schedule and confirm member visits in accordance with company policies, procedures, and applicable laws.
• Maintain and file records in compliance with HIPAA and company procedures.
• Request, review, and process insurance claims, payments, and chargebacks for doctor services where applicable and for eye care materials.
• Complete assigned virtual and hands-on training, including training needed to obtain and maintain applicable certification and licensure.
• Develop intermediate knowledge of eye anatomy and diagnostic testing and participate in internal development opportunities.
• Where applicable, register with the state board for an apprenticeship or work permit within 60 days and maintain registration or certification without a lapse.
• Lead and participate in teams by sharing resources and information, determining customer needs and business priorities, coordinating assignments, and supporting work quality and timelines.
• Collaborate with managers, coworkers, customers, and business partners to develop and implement processes, monitor results, and identify improvement opportunities.
• Demonstrate and promote compliance with company policies, procedures, ethics, and integrity standards, and assist management with ethical and compliance issues.
• Promote respect, inclusion, teamwork, trustworthy relationships, communication, and the development and recognition of others.
• Serve customers and members, use reliable information in decision-making, and balance short- and long-term priorities.
• Pursue continuous improvement, learning, resilience, and adoption of new technologies and skills.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• 401(k), stock purchase, and company-paid life insurance.
• Paid time off, parental leave, family care leave, bereavement leave, jury duty leave, and voting leave; PTO and/or PPTO may be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• Company discounts.
• Military Leave Pay.
• Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement.
• Company-paid education through Live Better U, from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, English Language Learning, and short-form certificates; tuition, books, and fees are covered subject to eligibility.
• Performance-based bonus awards and possible hourly premiums.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED