Optical Associate, Non-Certified – Sam’s Club

Walmart•Laredo, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Optical Associate maintains merchandise presentation and sales-floor organization in the Optical area, receives and stocks merchandise, handles claims and returns, and completes required documentation. The associate operates point-of-sale equipment and assists members with purchases, payments, returns, refunds, and exchanges. As needed, the role also involves receiving and maintaining hearing-aid inventory and processing related sales and refunds. The associate sells optical products and services, helps members make purchasing decisions, measures, adjusts, and repairs frames and lenses, completes eyewear and contact-lens orders, and verifies prescription information. Duties include accurately measuring pupillary distance and position of wear for multiple lens types, inspecting completed eyewear, troubleshooting non-adapt issues, communicating with laboratories and optometrists, monitoring trial-lens inventory, and maintaining and troubleshooting optical equipment. The associate educates members on eyewear care and supports contact-lens insertion, removal, and hygiene guidance. As needed and under the guidance of a contracted or associate optometrist, the associate may complete patient appointments, perform pre-testing, and record results. The role supports optometrist services and related technology; collects payments; schedules and confirms appointments; maintains records in compliance with HIPAA and company procedures; and processes applicable insurance claims and payments. The associate completes required training and works toward applicable certifications, registrations, and licenses. The position also involves collaborating with and supporting team members, developing and applying processes, promoting compliance and ethical conduct, and demonstrating the company’s values of respect, integrity, customer service, and excellence.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent upon job entry or within 12 months of hire to be eligible to sit for the American Board of Opticianry (ABO) exam.
Meet the requirements to work as an Optical Associate, including applicable minimum age, qualifications, registration, certification, and/or licensure requirements set 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 a manager to register and maintain an NPI number when required by state law.
In licensed or registered states, meet or be able to satisfy state-law requirements to become an apprentice optician and licensed optician.
In licensed or 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 three months of completing the minimum apprenticeship hours required by the state.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a health care or retail setting.

Responsibilities

Stock merchandise; set up, clean, and organize product displays; remove damaged goods; sign and price merchandise; and secure fragile and high-shrink merchandise.
Maintain the Optical sales floor by handling claims and returns, zoning the area, organizing merchandise, and identifying shrink and damaged goods.
Receive and stock Optical merchandise; maintain the area, use equipment appropriately, merchandise products, and complete required paperwork, logs, and documentation.
As needed, receive, audit, and maintain hearing-aid inventory and process sales and refunds through the POS system.
Operate registers and related hardware and process member purchases, payments, returns, refunds, and exchanges using appropriate procedures.
Educate members about 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 various lens types, including bifocal, trifocal, occupational, and progressive lenses, using manual and digital systems.
Perform frame adjustments and repairs and inspect eyewear before dispensing, including compound-prism verification.
Troubleshoot member non-adapt issues and communicate with laboratories and optometrists about job status, product updates, and expired-lens reorders.
Process eyewear and contact-lens orders, monitor trial-lens inventory, and ensure optical equipment is clean and calibrated.
Troubleshoot equipment failures and coordinate repairs.
As needed and under optometrist guidance, complete patient appointments, perform pre-testing, and record results.
Support optometrist services and related technology; collect payments for doctor or telehealth services; and schedule and confirm member appointments 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, payments, and chargebacks for doctor services and eye-care materials.
Complete assigned virtual and hands-on training, including training needed to acquire and maintain required 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 ensure registration or certification does not lapse.
Lead and participate in teams by sharing resources and information, determining customer needs and business priorities, coordinating work, supporting quality and timelines, and helping others adapt to change.
Develop, communicate, and implement processes and practices with managers, coworkers, customers, and other business partners; analyze information, monitor results, and identify improvement opportunities.
Promote compliance with company policies, procedures, and ethical standards; guide others in applying them, use the Open Door Policy, and assist management in addressing ethical and compliance issues.
Respect individuals and differences, foster belonging, build trusting team relationships, communicate positively, and help develop and recognize others.
Act with integrity, model company values, and be accountable, humble, self-aware, honest, fair, and transparent.
Serve customers and members by delivering results, making informed decisions, balancing priorities, and considering the impact of work on the team and stakeholders.
Strive for excellence through learning, resilience, continuous improvement, and adoption of new technologies and skills.

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 and/or paid protected time off, with eligibility and amounts based on job classification and length of employment; may be used for vacation, sick leave, holidays, or other purposes.
Parental leave, family care leave, bereavement leave, jury duty leave, and voting leave.
Short-term and long-term disability.
Company discounts.
Military Leave Pay.
Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement.
Live Better U company-paid education benefits for eligible full-time and part-time associates, covering tuition, books, and fees for programs ranging from high school completion to bachelor's degrees, English Language Learning, and short-form certificates.