We’ve been a family-run business for over 35 years, working together with our store partners to provide the best value optometry, audiology and other healthcare services for our customers.

Career Options in Optometry

• Optometrist
• Clinical Engagement Manager
• Senior Optometrist
• Optometrist Director

Educational pathways:

Currently, the only route into Optometry is the traditional route to university – to qualify as an optometrist, students need to obtain a degree in optometry. As of August 2023, the only provider in the Republic of Ireland is the Bachelor of Science in Optometry course at TUD. Full details here.

Training / CPD

Specsavers is the largest employer of optometrists in (the Republic of) Ireland. We take on students as they head into their work placement, at the end of their optometry degree. This is a five-month placement where students work under supervision in a high-street optometry practice. Upon successful completion of this placement and the honours degree, students are then eligible to register as optometrists with CORU (the Health and Social Care Professionals Council), Ireland's multi-profession health regulator.

Specsavers Graduate Recruitment team have working relationships with the course providers and assess students in year 2. They will then support students to find a placement in one of our practices. Whilst on placement, students will attend the Specsavers Student Academy where they’ll receive support in the form of in-person training courses, online resources and divisional events all designed to support students on their journey to becoming a qualified optometrist.

Optometry as a discipline is an ever-evolving field and offers an exciting and dynamic career which takes advantage of cutting edge tech for better patient outcomes. Specsavers offers fantastic opportunities for continuous professional development once qualified including Professional Advancement Conferences, in person events and online resources and training.

Type of person this career is suited to:

An optometrist will make a positive difference to people’s lives every single day. A strong grounding in science is needed. Much of the knowledge needed for the role will come from Physics and Biology – a love of Maths and Chemistry will help too.

Patients will come from all walks of life, and excellent communication and people skills are essential. Attention to detail and precision in all aspects of work is vital.

In a sector where exciting advances are being made all the time, a passion for continuous learning and development is crucial - being a part of a team of frontline health care experts; it is important to keep up with the latest technological and clinical advances. It may also be possible to specialise further in areas of interest, which may require further training.

Above all, customers’ best interests are always the number one priority as well as acting with honesty and integrity to provide the highest levels of clinical care, services, and aftercare to all customers.

Salary: 50 – 60K+ depending on experience and location.

Career Options in Audiology

• Audiology Director
• Hearing Aid Dispenser
• Audiology Practitioner
• Audiology Clinical Support
• Audiology Administrator

Educational pathways:

1. Audiology Director – H.A.D qualification or Audiology Degree, undertake internal ‘partner in development training’
2. Hearing Aid Dispenser – Leaving Certificate at grade O3/O4 in English, Maths and a Science subject. (GCSE at level 4/C or equivalent). Level 6 Higher Certificate in a Science subject (Level 3 qualification to UCAS tariff points of 32-48).
3. Audiology Practitioner – Leaving Certificate at grade O3/04 in English and Maths minimum (or GCSE equivalent). Internal Audiology Practitioner training from 10 weeks to 22 weeks, depending on specialism. These are offered on a store by store need.
4. Audiology Clinical Support/ Administrator – Leaving Certificate at grade O3/04 in English and Maths (or GCSE equivalent).

Who would these job opportunities suit?

The opportunities would be suitable for a qualified and experienced person to manage the hearcare business in the store. They would also suit school leavers and part time workers.

Click here for Audiology jobs.

We recognise that the benefits of embracing a diverse and inclusive workforce are key to achieving our long-term goals, ensuring we have the right people in the right place at the right time.

As a business operating in many markets around the world, we believe diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. We want a connected workforce that reflects the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. Different ideas and perspectives help us innovate, manage risk, and grow the business in a sustainable way – and difference is celebrated at Specsavers.

See just some of our benefits below:

Your health covered

• Healthcare benefits – from routine and emergency dental care, prescription cover and allergy testing to yearly health checks and nightly hospital stay cover.

Your lifestyle covered

• 33 days holiday, as well as exclusive access to Specsavers Perks – our benefit scheme which saves you money on a range of products including holidays, days out, home wear and electronics. We offer a number of different benefits to help provide for you and your family in the future, including a pension and permanent health insurance. We provide a range of benefits to help you strike a balance between your work and home life.

Quarterly bonus

• As a valued member of the team, you are eligible for our quarterly bonus scheme; payment is based on your performance  

Annual profit share

• To recognise your contribution to the success of Specsavers we offer an annual profit share scheme   

Eyecare

• Of course, we are going to encourage you to look after your sight. That’s why all colleagues will receive a free eye test with an OCT scan plus £220 worth of vouchers each year towards your glasses

Hearcare

• It’s not just your eyes we take care of, it’s your ears to. If you need hearing aids, we will give you £500 towards the cost of them every four years and we also offer free wax removal every year

Sustainability

• Our commitment is to make a positive difference and to change the way we operate, so that we are carbon net-zero by 2050. We also have our eyes locked onto making eyecare available to those most in need.

We currently have 2,560 colleagues in ROI and NI, across Optics Audiology & Domiciliary, including our store partners.

How we Recruit – Apply online via https://join.specsavers.com Applications are then screened against the job entry/ qualification criteria and the shortlist is sent to stores for review.

We recuit in the following areas:

Jobs in demand

• Optometrists
• Dispensing Opticians
• Hearing Aid Dispensers

There is a shortage of optometrists in the Republic of Ireland (and globally), but especially in rural and coastal areas, so salary is accordingly higher in those locations.

You’ll find us in Ireland, the UK, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Australia and New Zealand, employing over 38,000 people who work across our 2,293 stores, as well as in our support offices and throughout the supply chain.

As a member of our team, your Specsavers career could take you in a number of directions. As a global business we have multiple opportunities across the UK & Ireland in our high street stores, in the community, in our supply chain sites and in our support office locations.

But which role is right for you?

Click here to explore our vacancies.

There are a variety of different jobs available in Ireland and the job entry requirements depends on the role.

In Northern Ireland our Specsavers stores works with Inspiro/ other training providers in Northern Ireland to provide apprenticeship training in customer service practitioner diploma at level 2, retail assistant at level 2 and retail management at level 3 for our roles typically recruited for from school leavers or who already work in our stores.

For NI - We also offer the Specsavers Bright Futures Bursary Programme for optometry careers; this supports local STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students through school on to university, leading to an amazing career with Specsavers. Find out more using the links below. 

In Republic of Ireland, to join us please refer to the job advertisements.

Specsavers Graduate Recruitment

Specsavers is the largest employer of optometrists in (the Republic of) Ireland. We take on students as they head into their work placement, at the end of their optometry degree. This is a five-month placement where students work under supervision in a high-street optometry practice. Upon successful completion of this placement and the honours degree, students are then eligible to register as optometrists with CORU (the Health and Social Care Professionals Council), Ireland's multi-profession health regulator.

Specsavers Graduate Recruitment team have working relationships with the course providers and assess students in year 2. They will then support students to find a placement in one of our practices. Whilst on placement, students will attend the Specsavers Student Academy where they’ll receive support in the form of in-person training courses, online resources and divisional events all designed to support students on their journey to becoming a qualified optometrist.

Pop into a store to find out about opportunities for work experience within that store. These opportunities vary by store but we’d love to hear from you.