Optical Associate, Non-Certified – Sam’s Club

Walmart • Laredo, TX

4d • $17 - $25 • Onsite

About The Position

The Optical Associate supports daily operations in the Sam’s Club Optical area, maintaining merchandise presentation and sales-floor organization, receiving and stocking inventory, processing transactions, and following company procedures for claims, returns, documentation, and loss prevention. The associate assists members with eyewear and contact lens purchases and care, including prescription verification, measurements, frame adjustments and repairs, order processing, final eyewear inspections, and troubleshooting non-adapt issues. The role also includes monitoring lens inventory, maintaining and calibrating optical equipment, and coordinating with laboratories and optometrists about orders and product updates.

As needed and under the guidance of a contracted or associate optometrist, the associate may support patient appointments by performing pre-testing and recording results, scheduling and confirming visits, collecting payments, and processing applicable insurance claims and payments. The associate maintains records in compliance with HIPAA and company procedures, completes required training, and obtains and maintains applicable registrations, certifications, and licenses. The role also involves teamwork, member service, support for colleagues, and compliance with company policies, procedures, and standards of ethics and integrity.

The position is based at the Sam’s Club location at 4810 San Bernardo Ave, Laredo, Texas. The hourly wage range is $17.00 to $25.00, with possible premiums of $0.35 to $3.00 per hour in specified circumstances. Sam’s Club describes competitive pay, performance-based bonus awards, and benefits including health coverage, paid time off, financial benefits, disability coverage, discounts, education benefits, and other programs. Benefit eligibility and amounts may depend on job classification and length of employment.

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 requirements to work as an Optical associate, including minimum age and any applicable qualifications, registration, certification, or licensure required by the Optical organization or state boards.
• Obtain American Board of Opticianry (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 requiring licensure or registration: meet or be able to satisfy state requirements to become an apprentice optician and licensed optician.
• In states requiring licensure or registration: 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 requirements and obtain licensure within three months of completing the state’s minimum apprenticeship hours.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a health care or retail setting.

Responsibilities

• Maintain Optical merchandise presentation by stocking, setting up, cleaning, and organizing displays; removing damaged goods; pricing and signing merchandise; and securing fragile or high-shrink items.
• Maintain the Optical sales floor by handling claims and returns, zoning and organizing merchandise, and identifying shrink and damages.
• Receive and stock Optical merchandise; maintain the area and complete required paperwork, logs, and documentation.
• As needed, receive, audit, and maintain hearing aid inventory and process sales and refunds through the point-of-sale system.
• Operate registers and related hardware; 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 purchases, measure and verify prescription information, adjust and repair frames and lenses, and complete eyewear and contact lens orders.
• Measure pupillary distance and position of wear for different lens types using manual and digital systems.
• Inspect eyewear before dispensing, including compound prism verification, and troubleshoot member non-adapt issues.
• Communicate with laboratories and optometrists about job status, product updates, and expired-lens reordering.
• Monitor trial lens inventory and ensure optical equipment is clean and calibrated; troubleshoot equipment failures and coordinate repairs.
• As needed and under optometrist guidance, support appointments by performing pre-testing and recording results; support OD services and collect payments for doctor or telehealth services.
• Schedule and confirm member visits in accordance with company policies and applicable laws.
• Maintain and file records in compliance with HIPAA and company procedures.
• Request, review, and process applicable insurance claims and payments for doctor services and eye-care materials, including chargebacks where applicable.
• Complete assigned virtual and hands-on training, including training required to acquire and maintain certification and licensure.
• Develop knowledge of eye anatomy and diagnostic testing, and participate in internal development opportunities.
• Where required by state regulations, register with the state board for an apprenticeship or work permit within 60 days and prevent lapses in registration or certification.
• Lead and participate in teams by sharing resources and information, identifying customer needs and business priorities, coordinating work, supporting quality and timelines, and helping others adapt to change.
• Develop and implement processes and practices with managers, coworkers, customers, and business partners; monitor results and identify improvement opportunities.
• Demonstrate and support compliance with company policies, procedures, and ethical standards; help management address ethical and compliance issues.
• Support a respectful, inclusive workplace, build trusting team relationships, help develop and mentor others, and serve customers and members while pursuing continuous improvement.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and performance-based bonus awards.
• 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.
• Live Better U company-paid education benefit, including tuition, books, and fees for eligible programs from high school completion through bachelor’s degrees, English Language Learning, and short-form certificates.

What This Job Offers

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