(USA) Appleton-Optical Manager, Non-Certified – Sam’s Club

Walmart • Appleton, WI

20d • Onsite

About The Position

The Optical Manager, Non-Certified leads the optical department’s sales, merchandising, pricing, inventory, and seasonal execution. The role uses sales data, market trends, competitive pricing, member needs, community demographics, and local economic patterns to guide product assortments and improve financial performance. It also builds relationships with internal and community stakeholders and leads outreach to promote optical services.

The manager ensures high service standards and oversees eyewear and contact lens consultations, measurements, fittings, adjustments, education, order processing, and quality assurance under applicable optometric supervision. Responsibilities include maintaining accurate and confidential member records, following HIPAA and safety protocols, troubleshooting optical issues, coordinating with labs and suppliers, and keeping equipment calibrated, clean, and ready for use. The role also supports contracted optometric services by overseeing appointment workflows, pre-testing, contact lens documentation, and payment collection where applicable.

The position leads, coaches, and develops the optical team through hiring, training, performance management, recognition, and support for certification and licensure. It assigns work to maintain effective workflows, supports apprentice opticians in accordance with state requirements, and ensures credentials are renewed on time.

The manager ensures compliance with optical regulations and company policies, monitors operational reports, addresses performance gaps, manages shrink prevention and inventory protection, and oversees asset protection, quality reviews, and equipment and work-area maintenance. The role applies current expertise and best practices, develops and implements business solutions, builds stakeholder partnerships, adapts to changing demands, and models company policies, values, ethics, and standards.

The position is located at Sam’s Club in Appleton, Wisconsin. The hourly wage range is $25.50–$37.50, with possible premiums of $0.35–$3.00 per hour in specified circumstances. Competitive pay, performance-based bonus awards, and a range of benefits are offered.

Requirements

• Meet one of the following qualification options: completion of 2 or more years of college; 1 year of retail experience and 1 year of supervisory experience; or 2 years of general work experience, including 1 year of optical experience.
• Have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent upon job entry or within 12 months of hire in order 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.
• In licensed or registration states, obtain required state optician licensure within 18 months of hire or initial movement into Sam’s Optical, or within the applicable state training-hours timeframe plus 3 months, whichever is longer.
• Maintain an NPI number and active state licensure when required by state regulations.
• Register and maintain Optician in Charge status when required by state regulations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with insurance processing and electronic health records.

Responsibilities

• Lead department sales growth through merchandising, pricing accuracy, inventory oversight, and seasonal execution.
• Forecast sales trends and align product assortments with member needs, community demographics, and local economic patterns.
• Monitor competitive pricing and use sales data to improve merchandising tactics and revenue performance.
• Build stakeholder connections and lead community outreach to promote optical services and strengthen local relationships.
• Set and uphold service standards and ensure prompt, accurate resolution of member inquiries and concerns.
• Lead eyewear and contact lens consultations, measurements, fittings, adjustments, and education under applicable optometric supervision.
• Maintain confidential member information and accurate, compliant documentation, including HIPAA and safety protocols.
• Manage quality assurance, resolve complex optical issues under applicable optometric supervision, and maintain equipment calibration, cleanliness, and readiness.
• Hire, train, coach, develop, and manage the performance of optical team members; foster an inclusive and accountable team culture.
• Assign duties to optimize workflow and support certification, licensure, skill development, credential renewal, and apprentice optician sponsorship as required.
• Oversee optical measurements, frame adjustments and repairs, final eyewear inspections, troubleshooting of non-adapt cases, and communications with labs, suppliers, and optometrists under applicable optometric supervision.
• Direct eyewear and contact lens order processing, trial lens inventory control, and equipment maintenance protocols under applicable optometric supervision.
• Support optometric services by overseeing appointment scheduling workflows, pre-testing, contact lens insertion and removal documentation, and payment collection where applicable.
• Promote the use of optical technologies to improve accuracy, efficiency, and member experience.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA, optical regulations, company policies, and safety protocols; analyze reports and implement corrective actions.
• Manage shrink prevention, stock levels, receiving procedures, inventory protection, asset protection, quality reviews, and maintenance of optical equipment and work areas.
• Prepare, review, and use operational reports to guide decisions and align work with organizational goals.
• Represent the optical department in cross-functional collaborations and support broader business objectives.
• Apply current expertise and best practices, provide guidance, build stakeholder partnerships, monitor results, identify improvement opportunities, and adapt to organizational changes and competing demands.
• Model company policies, mission, values, ethics, integrity, and the Open Door Policy; respect individual differences, develop and mentor others, serve members, and drive 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 program 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.
• Performance-based bonus awards.

What This Job Offers

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