Advanced Refractionist / Office Manager
Position Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Optometrist / Clinical Director
Position Summary
THIS IS AN ADVANCED REFRACTIONIST / OFFICE MANAGEMENT POSITION. PLEASE ONLY APPLY IF YOU MEET THE EXPERIENCE CRITERIA BELOW.
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Advanced Refractionist / Office Manager to work alongside one of our optometrists in a fast-paced clinical environment.
This is a dual-role position combining advanced clinical refraction with office management responsibilities.
The primary clinical responsibility of this position is performing fast, precise, and highly accurate refractions. The quality and consistency of the refraction is the cornerstone of this role. Candidates must be capable of producing refractions with a level of accuracy and reliability comparable to that expected from an experienced optometrist.
When not actively assisting with patient care or performing refractions, this individual will help manage the day-to-day operations of the office, support staff, maintain efficient patient flow, and ensure that established clinical and operational standards are consistently followed.
This position is ideal for an experienced ophthalmic professional who combines advanced refraction skills with proven office-management experience and leadership ability.
Key Clinical Responsibilities
- Perform fast, accurate, consistent, and reproducible subjective and objective refractions
- Produce refraction results with a level of precision and reliability comparable to those expected from an optometrist
- Work directly alongside the optometrist to increase clinical efficiency and patient capacity
- Assist the optometrist during comprehensive eye examinations
- Conduct slit lamp examinations under doctor guidance
- Assist with contact lens fittings, evaluations, follow-ups, and patient education
- Accurately document clinical findings in the EHR
- Prepare patients for examinations and maintain efficient patient flow
- Recognize when findings require additional evaluation by the optometrist
- Maintain exam rooms, clinical equipment, and cleanliness standards
- Communicate clearly, professionally, and confidently with patients and clinical staff
Office Management Responsibilities
During periods when refraction or direct clinical assistance is not required, this position will function in an office management and leadership capacity.
Responsibilities include:
- Oversee day-to-day office operations and patient flow
- Help coordinate and supervise clinical and front-office staff
- Ensure staff members follow established office policies, procedures, and clinical workflows
- Identify operational bottlenecks and help resolve them in real time
- Maintain appropriate staffing coverage and workflow throughout the day
- Assist with staff training, coaching, accountability, and performance expectations
- Help maintain a professional, efficient, and patient-focused office environment
- Address routine patient concerns and escalate issues when appropriate
- Monitor office organization, cleanliness, equipment, and supply needs
- Communicate operational concerns and opportunities for improvement to leadership
- Support the optometrist by allowing the doctor to remain focused primarily on patient care rather than routine office-management issues
- Lead by example and help maintain a positive, accountable, team-oriented culture
Required Qualifications
Candidates must have:
- Minimum 2 years of full-time refraction experience in an optometric or ophthalmic setting
- Previous office manager, clinical manager, or comparable ophthalmic/optometric leadership experience
- Demonstrated ability to independently perform high-quality subjective and objective refractions
- Proven ability to refract quickly and efficiently without sacrificing accuracy
- Strong understanding of the theory of refraction
- Strong knowledge of subjective and objective refraction techniques
- Experience with slit lamp use and common ocular findings
- Experience with contact lens fittings and follow-up care
- Experience supervising staff and managing day-to-day office operations
- Ability to manage workflow and solve operational problems independently
- Comfort working in a high-volume clinical environment
- Excellent attention to detail, clinical judgment, leadership, and communication skills
Refraction Accuracy Standard
Refraction accuracy is the most important clinical requirement of this position.
This is not an entry-level technician position. The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to consistently produce precise, dependable, and reproducible prescriptions that closely correlate with the optometrist's findings.
Speed is important, but accuracy cannot be sacrificed for speed.
The purpose of this position is to allow the optometrist to confidently rely on the refraction while focusing additional time on ocular health, medical decision-making, patient education, and treatment.
Candidates should expect their refraction proficiency and accuracy to be evaluated as part of the interview and onboarding process.
Preferred Skills & Attributes
- Exceptional refraction speed without sacrificing accuracy
- Strong leadership and staff-management ability
- Excellent interpersonal and patient communication skills
- Ability to anticipate provider and office needs
- Comfortable making appropriate operational decisions independently
- Highly organized and dependable
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Ability to transition seamlessly between clinical and management responsibilities
- Team-oriented with a positive, professional attitude
- Experience with EHR and practice-management systems
- Certification as an Ophthalmic Technician or equivalent (preferred but not required)
What Success Looks Like in This Role
A successful Advanced Refractionist / Office Manager will:
- Deliver consistently accurate and reproducible refractions
- Allow the optometrist to confidently rely upon the refraction findings
- Help increase clinical efficiency without compromising quality of care
- Maintain smooth patient flow throughout the office
- Identify and resolve operational issues before they disrupt the clinic
- Provide leadership and accountability to the office team
- Allow the optometrist to remain focused on practicing at the highest level of their license
- Help create an efficient, organized, professional, and exceptional patient experience
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation based on experience and demonstrated skill
- Stable, full-time schedule
- Supportive, team-oriented work environment
- Opportunity to work closely with an experienced optometrist
- Meaningful leadership responsibility within the practice
- Growth potential within a well-established and expanding organization
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: $18.00 - $25.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- On-the-job training
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- refracting: 2 years (Required)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: In person
