(USA) Optical Manager, Certified (ABO) – Sam’s Club

Sam's East•Philadelphia, PA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Optical Manager leads the Sam’s Club optical department’s sales, service, clinical support, team development, and operational compliance. The role drives sales growth through effective merchandising, accurate pricing and inventory oversight, seasonal execution, sales-trend forecasting, competitive pricing analysis, and data-informed improvements. The manager aligns assortments with member needs and local market conditions, builds stakeholder and community relationships, and represents the optical department in community outreach and internal initiatives. The manager sets service standards and leads eyewear and contact lens consultations, measurements, fittings, adjustments, education, order processing, and quality checks under applicable optometric supervision. The role maintains member confidentiality and compliant documentation, oversees equipment readiness and calibration, manages optical inventory and trial lenses, and coordinates with laboratories, suppliers, and optometrists to resolve order and product issues. It also supports optometric services through appointment scheduling, pre-testing workflows, accurate contact lens insertion and removal documentation, and collection of payments for doctor or telehealth services as applicable. The position hires, trains, coaches, and develops optical associates; assigns work to optimize workflow; supports credentialing and licensure pathways; and ensures apprentice opticians have sponsorship in accordance with state requirements. The manager maintains compliance with HIPAA, optical regulations, company policies, and safety protocols; analyzes reports and audits; addresses performance gaps; prevents shrink; and oversees asset protection, receiving procedures, and equipment and work-area maintenance. The manager applies current expertise and best practices, builds partnerships, implements business solutions, adapts to changing priorities, and models company policies, ethics, and values. The role emphasizes respect for individuals, integrity, customer and member service, teamwork, continuous improvement, and excellence.

Requirements

Completion of at least 2 years of college; or 1 year of retail experience and 1 year of supervisory experience; or 2 years of general work experience, including 1 year of optical experience.
Meet applicable requirements to work as an Optical associate, including minimum age, qualifications, registration, certification, and/or licensure required by the optical organization or state boards.
Active American Board of Opticianry (ABO) certification, including continuing education requirements to maintain certification.
In states with licensure or registration requirements, meet or be able to satisfy state requirements to become an apprentice optician and licensed optician.
Obtain state-required optician licensure within 18 months of hire or initial movement into Sam’s Club Optical, 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.
Maintain an NPI number and active state licensure where required by state regulations.
Register and maintain Optician in Charge status where required by state regulations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with insurance processing and electronic health records.
High school diploma, GED, or equivalent upon job entry or within 12 months of hire to sit for the ABO exam.

Responsibilities

Lead department sales growth through merchandising, pricing accuracy, inventory oversight, and seasonal execution.
Forecast sales trends, align product assortments with member and community needs, monitor competitive pricing, and use sales data to improve revenue performance.
Build stakeholder relationships and lead community outreach to promote optical services and strengthen local relationships.
Set and uphold service standards, resolve member concerns, and lead eyewear and contact lens consultations under applicable optometric supervision.
Oversee eyewear measurements, fittings, adjustments, repairs, contact lens education, and final inspections under applicable optometric supervision.
Maintain confidentiality and accurate, compliant documentation, including HIPAA and safety records.
Manage quality assurance, complex optical issue resolution, equipment calibration, cleanliness, readiness, and maintenance.
Hire, train, coach, develop, and performance-manage the optical team; assign duties to optimize workflow and recognize contributions.
Support associate certification and licensure pathways, ensure timely credential renewals, and provide required apprentice optician sponsorship and development pathways.
Ensure accurate optical measurements, including pupillary distance, position of wear, and multifocal or progressive lens parameters, using manual and digital tools.
Troubleshoot non-adapt cases and coordinate with laboratories, suppliers, and optometrists regarding job status, product updates, and corrective actions.
Direct eyewear and contact lens order processing, trial lens inventory control, and equipment maintenance and calibration protocols.
Support optometric services by overseeing appointment scheduling, pre-testing, contact lens insertion and removal documentation, and payment collection as applicable.
Promote optical technologies that improve accuracy, efficiency, and member experience.
Ensure compliance with HIPAA, optical regulations, company policies, and safety protocols; analyze reports, identify gaps, and implement corrective actions.
Manage shrink prevention, stock levels, receiving procedures, inventory protection, asset protection activities, quality reviews, and optical work areas.
Prepare, review, and use operational reports to guide decisions and align departmental work with organizational goals.
Represent the optical department in cross-functional collaborations and support broader business objectives.
Model company values, ethical conduct, accountability, inclusion, customer service, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

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.
Live Better U company-paid education benefit, including tuition, books, and fees for eligible programs ranging from high school completion to bachelor’s degrees, English Language Learning, and short-form certificates.
Performance-based bonus awards.
Potential premiums based on schedule, facility, season, or specific work performed.