Optometrist
Listed compensation
$176,800 a year
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Akicita Federal is hiring two Optometrists to deliver comprehensive eye care services to American Indian and Alaska Native patients served by the Woodrow Wilson Keeble Memorial Health Care Center (WWKMHCC) in Sisseton, South Dakota.
These roles support the Indian Health Service's mission to provide the best possible healthcare to approximately 7,000 tribal members living on the Lake Traverse Reservation — a rural community where access to quality specialty care makes a profound difference.
You'll be part of a dedicated clinical team serving patients who may travel significant distances to receive care.
- Provide complete optometric examinations, diagnose ocular diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses and treatment plans for a diverse patient population
- Diagnose and manage conditions including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and other anterior and posterior segment disorders
- Document all patient encounters, clinical findings, and treatment decisions accurately within the facility's electronic health record system
- Coordinate with on-site medical providers and specialists to deliver integrated, patient-centered care for individuals with complex or chronic health conditions
- Prescribe and fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, and low-vision aids appropriate to each patient's clinical and lifestyle needs
- Provide patient education on eye health maintenance, disease management, and preventive care strategies
- Participate in quality improvement activities and collaborate with facility leadership to support the overall health service delivery mission
$176,800 - $176,800 a year
- Current, valid Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from an accredited school or college of optometry
- Active, unrestricted license to practice optometry (state licensure must be valid; licensure in South Dakota or ability to obtain prior to start preferred)
- Ability to pass an FBI National Criminal History (fingerprint) background check adjudicated prior to beginning work
- Must not appear on the HHS Office of Inspector General List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE)
- Willingness to complete facility security pre-clearance requirements before the start of performance
What Sets Candidates Apart
- Prior experience providing optometric care in a federally qualified health center, tribal health program, Indian Health Service facility, or other safety-net or rural healthcare setting
- Familiarity with ocular manifestations of chronic diseases prevalent in Native American communities, such as diabetes-related eye conditions
- Experience working with underserved or frontier populations where patients face geographic or socioeconomic barriers to specialty care
- Residency training in ocular disease, primary care optometry, or a related specialty area
- Comfort working in a multidisciplinary clinical environment with integrated medical and behavioral health teams
About Akicita FederalAkicita Federal is a Native American-owned federal contractor delivering healthcare, clinical, IT, and program-support services across the Indian Health Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies. We hire the people who do the work — clinicians, analysts, engineers, support staff — and we treat them like the professionals they are.
Equal Opportunity EmployerAkicita Federal is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Akicita Federal complies with the Indian Preference provisions of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638) where applicable.
Key Responsibilities
The optometrist will perform comprehensive eye examinations, diagnose ocular diseases, and manage treatment plans for patients at the Woodrow Wilson Keeble Memorial Health Care Center. They will also coordinate with multidisciplinary clinical teams to provide integrated, patient-centered care for individuals with chronic health conditions.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a valid Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree and an active, unrestricted license to practice optometry. Applicants must also be able to pass an FBI National Criminal History background check and meet facility security pre-clearance requirements.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Optometry Career Context
Akicita Federal holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 76/100, 8 active listings.
Of the 50 active Optometry listings this role was benchmarked against, 68% have no call, 46% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $177k | Optometry median $110k (middle half $104k–$140k)24 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$200k in purchasing power | South Dakota index 88.6 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Optometry listings in South Dakota | 9 active | 2,015 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 68% no call · 46% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | US healthcare professional listings: 32% state a sign-on bonus (median $20k) · 8% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Optometry listings | 593 in the last 30 days | 401 the 30 days before (+48%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Optometry pay trend | +5.0% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
| Akicita Federal | silver tier, 76/100 | Top Employers work-life index8 active listings |
Location & Logistics
South Dakota has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$177k midpoint, that is roughly $7k–$12k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
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