Councillor job description
Shape the future of optometry, represent your profession and champion change.
About the role
The AOP’s Council brings together representatives from across the UK and from defined areas of practice to ensure all member’s voices are heard where it matters most.
As a Councillor, you’ll contribute at a national level to develop AOP policy, to influence key decisions and help shape how the profession evolves. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of optometry while working with peers from across the profession. You will also support the ongoing development of AOP membership services and products, and act as a trusted advocate for the AOP.
As an AOP Councillor, you will:
- Represent your area of the profession and communicate member’s views
- Contribute to policy development and strategic discussions
- Attend and participate in Council and Sub-Committee meetings
- Help guide and inform key decisions affecting optometry and eye care
- Engage with wider AOP membership to gather insight, or signpost services and resources available including legal support, education and Optometry Today
- Act as a ‘critical friend’ to the AOP
- Attend events, CPD sessions and professional forums
- Contribute and share your valuable expertise, experience and perspective.
Why become a Councillor?
Serving on the AOP Council offers you the opportunity to influence the future direction of the profession while expanding your professional network across the sector. You will gain valuable insight into optical policy, advocacy and strategy while developing leadership and governance experience.
Time commitment
Councillors attend three in-person Council meetings per year at the AOP office in London, alongside three virtual Committee meetings. Councillors are expected to prepare for meetings by reading and considering papers in advance to enable informed and effective participation.
Engagement with members between meetings and occasional working group participation is also an important part of the role. Tenures for each position is specified in the table below.
Remuneration
Councillors can claim payment for time spent on Council duties, along with travel and associated costs, in line with the AOP’s expenses policy.
Who can apply?
No previous Council experience is required. We are looking for enthusiastic members who are willing to share and flex their perspective, to engage constructively with fellow members, and to commit the time require to fulfil the role. An interest in optical policy and a passion for furthering the profession are essential.
Applicants must be a current AOP member, reside in the UK, represent their area of the profession effectively and meet the eligibility criteria for the position they are applying for (see tables below).
Conflicts of interest and confidentiality
Councillors are expected to act in the best interests of the AOP membership and the wider profession. Any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest must be declared in accordance with AOP policy.
Due to the nature of Council discussions, Councillors must also maintain appropriate confidentiality regarding sensitive information, strategic discussions and policy development. Applicants should consider carefully whether any external roles, affiliations or representative positions could give rise to a conflict or limit their ability to act independently in the interests of AOP members.
| Position | Eligibility |
| Regional (elected) positions |
An optometrist member, who lives or works in the region they represent |
| Dispensing optician |
A member employed and working as a dispensing optician |
| Hospital optometrist |
As appointed by the Hospital Optometrists Committee |
| Additional Hospital optometrist | A hospital optometrist working wholly or mainly in a hospital setting in the United Kingdom |
| Franchisee/joint venture partner optometrist | An optometrist working as a Joint Venture Partner or Franchisee |
| Early career optometrists | An optometrist working in the early stages of their career (within the first five years post-qualification), who has completed their first year in practice and is able to represent AOP members at a similar career stage |
| Pre‐registration optometrist |
An optometrist with either current or very recent experience of pre-reg work who is able to represent the pre-reg cohort effectively |
| Undergraduate student optometrist |
Any student member of the AOP who is currently studying for an undergraduate degree in optometry at a UK university. The post holder will also be appointed as the Chair of the AOP Student Committee |
| Academic optometrist | An optometrist working in teaching optometry at a United Kingdom university |
| Additional academic optometrist | Nominated by the Optometry Schools Council (OSC) and will usually be the Chair of the OSC |
| Locum optometrist | An optometrist who works as a locum in different settings that change from time to time and can represent members who practice as locums |
| IP optometrist | An optometrist working as an independent prescriber who holds the qualification and has current or very recent experience of independent prescribing |
| Domiciliary care optometrist |
An optometrist who works wholly or mainly in domiciliary settings |
| Employed optometrist in a multiple practice |
An optometrist working in a multiple practice who is able to represent the interests of AOP members working in multiple practice |
| Director optometrist of a multiple practice |
An optometrist working at the level of director of multiple practice who is able to represent the interests of directors of multiple practices |
| Employed optometrist in an independent practice |
An optometrist working in an independent practice who is able to represent the interests of AOP members working in independent practices |
| Director of an independent practice |
An optometrist working at the level of a director of an independent practice and who is able to represent the interests of directors of independent practices |
| Optometrist for Scotland |
An optometrist working in Scotland who has a working knowledge of NHS commissioning and Government health policy in Scotland |
| Optometrist for Wales |
An optometrist working in Wales who has a working knowledge of NHS commissioning and Government health policy in Wales |
| Optometrist for Northern Ireland |
An optometrist working in Northern Ireland who has a working knowledge of NHS commissioning and Government health policy in Northern Ireland |
Term of office
Before standing down people occupying each role may serve.
| Position | Term of office |
| Regional (elected position) |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Dispensing optician |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| University lecturer |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Hospital optometrist |
As determined by the Hospital Optometrists Committee |
| Additional Hospital optometrist | Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Franchisee/ joint venture partner |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Early career optometrist | Two years, may serve two terms of office |
| Pre‐registration optometrist |
One one‐year‐term |
| Undergraduate student optometrist |
One one‐year‐term |
| Additional academic optometrist |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Locum optometrist |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| IP optometrist |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Domiciliary care optometrist |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Employed optometrist in a multiple |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Director optometrist of a multiple |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Employed optometrist in an independent |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Director of an independent |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Designated post for Scotland |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Designated post for Wales |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
| Designated post for Northern Ireland |
Three years, may serve three terms of office |
