Optometrist

Vision Express; Ashford; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading eyewear company in Ashford is seeking an Optometrist to provide eye tests and deliver top-notch eye-care solutions. The role involves utilizing advanced technology to enhance customer experience while working in a collaborative environment. Candidates should possess strong communication skills and the ability to explain recommendations clearly. This position offers flexible working arrangements and a variety of benefits, fostering both professional and personal growth.

Benefits

Sales and performance-based bonus

Private medical cover

Life assurance

33 days annual leave

Flexible health-related benefits

Access to world leading technology

Qualifications

• Experience in providing suitable eye-care recommendations.
• Ability to explain professional terms in patient-friendly language.
• Experience in a fast-paced retail environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide eye tests and recommend eyewear.
• Work with advanced technology in the store.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure a high-quality service.

Skills

Experience testing patients’ eyes

Great communication skills

Strong teamwork

Ability to work under pressure

Confidence and enthusiasm

Job description

As an Optometrist at Vision Express, you’ll get to work with some world‑class technology including automated refraction, non‑contact tonometry, automated keratometry, fundus camera, visual field analyser, OCT and automated phoropters to name a few.

Your passion for optometry will support our ambition to ‘See More, Be More’ for our customers, maximising their lifestyle through appropriate eye‑care and eyewear solutions. In our stores, you will work with world‑class technology such as automated refraction, non‑contact tonometry, automated keratometry, fundus camera, visual field analyser, OCT and automated phoropters.

Although the hours of this role are advertised, if this sounds like the role for you, we’d love to hear about your ideal working week. Whether this is hours to fit around the school run or you prefer a compressed week – we are open to discussing flexible options with you further.

Who are we?

We are Vision Express – with over 550 stores across the UK and Ireland, we have something for everyone. Whether you want to work in a busy city centre flagship, a smaller village store or in one of our coastal locations, we’re sure we will have the perfect solution for you!

Did you know we are also part of the EssilorLuxottica family? EssilorLuxottica is the global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of lenses, frames and sunglasses. We are home to the most loved and widely recognised vision care and eyewear brands in the world. Their priority eyewear brands include Ray‑Ban, Oakley, Costa, Vogue Eyewear, Persol and Oliver Peoples, complemented by over 20 prestigious licensed brands.

Who is the perfect candidate?

• Experience testing patients’ eyes and eyesight while providing specialist recommendations on appropriate eye‑care or eyewear solutions.
• Great communication and rapport‑building skills to translate professional terminology into language understandable to patients.
• Strong teamwork with colleagues across the whole store team.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle challenging situations in a fast‑paced retail environment.
• Confidence, passion, drive and enthusiasm.

Anything else you should know?

• Sales and performance‑based bonus.
• Targeted incentives.
• Private medical cover for you and your family.
• Life assurance – 4× your basic annual salary.
• Free eyewear annually with eligibility from day one of joining us.
• Opportunities to get involved in the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation.
• Discounts for friends and family.
• Employee Assistant Program offering confidential support and advice on everything from financial support to emotional support.
• Ongoing CPD and personal development opportunities.
• Additional overtime opportunities paid at 80% of the locum rate.
• Access to world leading technology and great working environments.
• Coverage of professional fees such as GOC and ABDO.
• 33 days annual leave – increasing with your length of service, plus the opportunity to buy or sell holiday.
• Flexible health‑related benefits, such as Health Cash plan, Additional Life cover, Critical Illness cover and Dental Plan.
• Opportunities to join a company‑wide ECP community with peer‑to‑peer knowledge sharing and collaboration through our internal channels.
• Flexible lifestyle benefits such as Gymflex, Dining Cards, Discounted Travel Insurance, Experience Days, and even discounted bicycles through our Cycle to Work Scheme.
• And so much more!

We are Pioneers bringing heritage into the future

We’re deeply rooted in our legacy – proud of where we came from, yet always innovating and improving the rules of the eyewear and eye‑care game. We never stop learning, nor would we want to. We see our search for innovative solutions as an ongoing journey, not a destination. We’re curious – keeping up with trends, gathering insight, and thinking about where we can go next.

We’re thrilled that you’re considering applying to work with us. As a first step, you’ll need to submit your online application via our careers site. That’s when we review your application against role requirements. Unsuccessful applications will be informed by email.

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