Director of Optical Strategy
27 days ago
Pasadena
Job DescriptionDescription: Position Summary: The Director of Optical Strategy is responsible for leading the enterprise strategy, performance optimization, and growth of Acuity Eye Group’s Optical division across 50+ locations. This role will drive long-term strategic planning, operational excellence, merchandising strategy, and revenue growth across optical retail, OD/MD alignment, and patient experience. This leader will partner closely with Operations, Finance, Regional Directors, Merchandising, and Provider Leadership to deliver a scalable, high-performing optical organization that maximizes patient capture, revenue, profitability, and brand consistency. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Execution • Develop and lead AEG’s multi-year Optical Strategy, including footprint optimization, merchandising, pricing, and revenue growth pathways., • Translate enterprise goals into actionable operating plans, KPIs, and performance expectations for all optical locations., • Partner with COO, Finance, and Regional Directors to establish annual budgets, capture targets, and P&L objectives for optical., • Drive consistent standards across locations for visual merchandising, pricing, promotions, and product mix.Operational Excellence, • Evaluate current workflows and implement standardized best practices to improve patient flow, sales conversion, capture rate, and cycle times., • Lead performance reviews of optical operations across all regions; identify gaps and build improvement plans., • Establish and maintain Optical Scorecards, providing regular performance reporting by region, practice, provider, and staff., • Develop SOPs for optical processes, quality standards, merchandising, staffing, and inventory management.Provider & Team Alignment, • Strengthen OD/MD relationships to optimize optical handoffs, communication, and clinical-to-retail coordination., • Partner with Regional Directors and Practice Managers to ensure alignment between optical teams and clinic operations., • Support onboarding and development for optical staff and leaders; collaborate with HR on role design, competencies, and training.Merchandising & Product Strategy, • Lead collaboration with the Senior Director, Product & Merchandising on frame assortment, pricing tiers, promotions, vendor partnerships, and product innovation., • Monitor sales trends, customer insights, and competitive benchmarks to refine product and pricing strategy across regions.Financial Management, • Partner with Finance to monitor and improve optical P&L, including revenue, cost of goods, labor ratios, margins, and inventory turns., • Deliver financial projections, ROI analyses, and models supporting growth opportunities and capital investments., • Identify underperforming practices and develop targeted action plans with clear timelines and outcomes.Growth & Expansion, • Develop strategies for expanding optical services, including new store openings, remodels, relocations, and brand experience upgrades., • Evaluate market trends and define opportunities for new offerings (premium lens packages, digital retail, eyewear programs, etc.)., • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred (MBA, MHA, or similar)., • 7–10+ years in optical retail, ophthalmology/optometry operations, merchandising, or multi-site retail leadership., • Demonstrated success leading multi-site, multi-state teams or influencing large operational structures., • Strong understanding of optical sales processes, merchandising, optical retail KPIs, and P&L management., • Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder-management skills., • Highly data-driven with the ability to build and interpret dashboards, KPIs, and financial reporting., • Strategic planning & execution, • Retail and clinical workflow understanding, • Financial acumen & P&L management, • Influential leadership in matrixed environments, • Sales and merchandising insight, • Operational excellence & process design, • Data-driven decision making, • Annual Performance Bonus: 20–30%