PBA Lead Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: PBA Lead Designer

Company: Lucky Strike Entertainment

Location: United States (Remote, ideally based on East Coast)

Job Type: Other

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Sports & Recreation

Date Posted: 2026-08-10

Experience Level: 3-5 years professional design experience

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the visual identity and creative output for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) across critical platforms including social media, broadcast, and commercial materials.

• Develop and execute high-impact static and animated creative assets, ensuring brand consistency and elevating storytelling for tournaments, sponsorships, and brand growth initiatives.

• Provide visual leadership and creative direction for digital and broadcast initiatives, collaborating with internal marketing, social, and production teams to achieve strategic objectives.

• Partner with the broader Lucky Strike Entertainment design team to maintain brand cohesion and alignment across all company properties, ensuring a unified visual experience.

• Establish and maintain repeatable design templates and scalable graphic systems to ensure efficiency and consistency in creative production.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Lead Designer, implying a senior level of responsibility for creative output and visual direction within the PBA brand. The emphasis on social-first creative, broadcast graphics, and presentation design suggests a need for a candidate who can translate strategic marketing and sponsorship goals into compelling visual narratives. The "ideal East Coast" location preference for remote work indicates a need for timezone alignment with typical broadcast and marketing operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute high-impact static and animated creative for all social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X, tailored for each platform's unique audience and format.

• Design and deliver broadcast-ready graphic elements such as lower thirds, transitions, wipes, stat boards, and promotional assets that enhance the viewing experience for live and recorded PBA events.

• Create comprehensive motion graphics packages for major tournament weeks and targeted digital campaigns, ensuring dynamic visual storytelling and engagement.

• Design premium sales decks, sponsorship presentations, and executive materials that effectively communicate value propositions and secure partnerships for the PBA and Lucky Strike Entertainment.

• Develop key art and robust visual identity systems for major PBA events and championships, establishing a consistent and recognizable brand presence.

• Establish and maintain repeatable design templates and scalable graphic systems to streamline creative production workflows and ensure brand consistency across all outputs.

• Ensure unwavering brand consistency across all digital, broadcast, and presentation materials, reinforcing the PBA's visual identity and brand standards.

• Collaborate effectively with internal marketing, social media, production teams, and executive stakeholders to gather requirements, present concepts, and ensure alignment with business objectives.

• Partner proactively with the Lucky Strike Entertainment design team on cross-property initiatives, fostering synergy and shared best practices across the organization.

• Support live-event workflows by providing fast-turn creative execution and on-demand graphic support during critical broadcast and event periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on creative execution and strategic brand management. The need to support "live-event workflows with fast-turn creative execution" indicates a high-pressure, dynamic environment requiring rapid problem-solving and efficient design processes. The emphasis on "repeatable design templates and scalable graphic systems" points towards a need for process-oriented thinking and a desire for operational efficiency in the design function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is preferred.

Experience: A minimum of three to five years of professional design experience is required, with a strong preference for candidates with experience in sports, broadcast, entertainment, or media environments.

Required Skills:

• Strong portfolio demonstrating extensive experience in social-first creative, advanced motion graphics, and impactful presentation design.

• Advanced proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects, for creating high-quality visual assets.

• Proven experience designing for both vertical (e.g., TikTok, Reels) and horizontal (e.g., YouTube, Broadcast) formats, adapting creative for optimal platform performance.

• Exceptional expertise in typography, layout design, and building cohesive visual systems that maintain brand integrity.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, concurrent projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, prioritizing tasks effectively.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholder groups. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the sports, media, or entertainment industries, with a deep understanding of their unique visual communication needs and trends.

• Familiarity with other design or animation software that complements the Adobe Creative Suite.

• Experience in developing and maintaining brand style guides for digital and broadcast applications.

• Basic understanding of video editing principles and workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 3-5 years, coupled with the "Lead" title, suggests the company is seeking someone who can not only execute but also provide creative direction and mentorship. The explicit mention of "social-first creative" and "vertical and horizontal formats" indicates a need for a designer who is current with digital media trends and platform-specific design requirements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects that highlight expertise in social-first creative, including dynamic social media campaigns and platform-specific content.

• Include at least 2-3 projects demonstrating advanced motion graphics capabilities, such as animated explainer videos, broadcast intros, or complex animated sequences.

• Present 1-2 projects focused on premium presentation design, such as sales decks, sponsorship proposals, or executive reports, emphasizing clarity, visual appeal, and persuasive storytelling.

• Demonstrate the ability to create and maintain visual identity systems or key art for events or campaigns, showcasing consistency and scalability.

• Provide examples of template creation or scalable graphic system design that illustrate an understanding of efficiency and workflow optimization. Process Documentation:

• Outline the workflow for developing a social media campaign from concept to final delivery, including brief interpretation, ideation, asset creation, and platform optimization.

• Detail the process for creating a broadcast graphic package, from understanding broadcast needs and technical specifications to asset delivery and on-air integration.

• Describe methods for collaborating with stakeholders on presentation design projects, including brief gathering, iterative feedback, and final approval processes.

• Illustrate how you ensure brand consistency across diverse design outputs, detailing your approach to style guides, asset management, and quality control.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Lead Designer" title and the emphasis on brand identity, sponsorship sales, and broadcast materials, a portfolio that clearly articulates the candidate's process for developing and executing visual strategies is crucial. The company will likely look for evidence of how the candidate translates business objectives into design solutions and how they manage projects from conception to completion, ensuring brand consistency and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $80,000 - $90,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Healthcare coverage provided, offering essential medical benefits for employees.

• Performance-based incentives are available, rewarding successful contributions and achievements.

• A competitive total rewards package is offered, encompassing salary, incentives, and a broad range of additional benefits.

• Access to detailed information regarding the full scope of benefits is available via www.bowlerocorp.com/careers/benefits.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with the flexibility to support live-event workflows requiring fast-turn creative execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range of $80,000 to $90,000 USD is typical for a Lead Designer role with 3-5 years of experience in the US market, particularly in creative or media-focused organizations. The mention of "performance-based incentives" suggests that actual total compensation could exceed the base salary for high-performing individuals. The explicit reference to a benefits portal indicates a comprehensive benefits package is available.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Location-based entertainment, sports media, and entertainment properties. Lucky Strike Entertainment operates a diverse portfolio including bowling alleys, water parks, family entertainment centers, and owns the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). This unique blend creates a dynamic environment where operational efficiency meets creative brand storytelling.

Company Size: Over 360 locations across North America. This indicates a large, established organization with significant reach and resources, requiring robust internal processes and cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: While the specific founding date of Lucky Strike Entertainment isn't provided, its former identity as Bowlero Corp and its ownership of the PBA (founded in 1958) suggest a long-standing presence and deep roots in the sports and entertainment industry. This history implies a blend of established traditions and modern innovation.

Team Structure:

• The PBA design team likely comprises a core group of designers, potentially including specialists in motion graphics, social media, and broadcast. This role reports to a design manager or director, with close collaboration with marketing, social media, and production departments.

• The Lead Designer will work within a matrixed structure, reporting to a PBA-specific lead while also collaborating with the broader Lucky Strike Entertainment design team, ensuring alignment across different business units.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, involving close partnerships with marketing strategists, social media managers, broadcast producers, sponsorship sales teams, and executive stakeholders to translate business objectives into compelling visual assets. Methodology:

• Data-driven insights are likely used to inform design decisions, particularly for social media content and sponsorship pitches, focusing on engagement metrics and ROI.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies will be critical for managing diverse creative demands, from rapid social posts to comprehensive broadcast packages, ensuring efficiency and timely delivery.

• Automation and efficiency practices will be encouraged through the establishment of templates and scalable systems to support a high volume of creative output across multiple platforms.

Company Website: www.luckystrikeent.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's ownership of the PBA and its broad entertainment portfolio suggest a culture that values both brand heritage and modern, engaging content. The Lead Designer role will be key in bridging the traditional appeal of bowling with the contemporary demands of digital media and broadcast.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a "Lead" position, indicating a senior level within the design function. It requires not only strong individual contribution skills but also the ability to provide creative direction, establish visual standards, and collaborate effectively across departments. It's a pivotal role for someone looking to influence the visual narrative of a major sports property.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Designer will report to a manager or director within the PBA's marketing or creative department. They will also work closely with other PBA stakeholders and the central Lucky Strike Entertainment design team, necessitating strong communication and collaboration skills to navigate these relationships.

Operations Impact: The visual output of this role directly impacts brand perception, fan engagement, sponsorship value, and overall media presence for the PBA. High-quality, consistent, and compelling design is crucial for attracting and retaining audiences, securing lucrative sponsorships, and enhancing the broadcast experience, thereby contributing significantly to revenue generation and brand growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized areas like broadcast motion graphics, social media campaign strategy, and visual identity development for major sporting events.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Design Manager or Director role, overseeing larger teams or more complex projects, and mentoring junior designers within the PBA or Lucky Strike Entertainment.

• Cross-Property Exposure: Chance to contribute to design initiatives across other Lucky Strike Entertainment properties (bowling, water parks, etc.), broadening skill sets and understanding of diverse brand needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title suggests a pathway for career progression into management or a more specialized senior design role. The role's direct impact on brand perception and revenue-generating activities (sponsorships, media) makes it a strategic position with high visibility for growth within the organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While the role is remote, the preference for an East Coast base suggests a need for timezone alignment with typical broadcast and marketing operational hours. The company operates a large number of physical entertainment venues, indicating a blend of corporate operations and location-based service environments.

Office Location(s): Remote, with a preference for the East Coast of the United States. Lucky Strike Entertainment has over 360 locations across North America, implying a distributed workforce and a need for strong remote collaboration tools and practices.

Workspace Context:

• The remote nature necessitates a self-directed work environment, requiring strong organizational skills and discipline.

• Access to standard design software and collaboration tools is expected, with the company likely providing necessary licenses and platforms for remote communication and project management.

• Opportunities for interaction with operations teams will primarily be virtual, through video conferences, team chats, and collaborative design platforms, emphasizing clear communication and proactive engagement.

Work Schedule: Approximately 40 hours per week. However, the need to support live events and fast-turn creative execution implies potential for extended hours or flexible scheduling during peak periods, such as tournament weeks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role, coupled with the "ideally based on East Coast" preference, suggests that while flexibility is high, some level of integration with East Coast-based teams for synchronous collaboration and live event support will be beneficial. Candidates should be comfortable with a fully remote setup and demonstrate strong self-management skills.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience against the job requirements. Emphasis will be placed on the quality and relevance of your design work.

• Portfolio Presentation: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, walking through key projects and explaining your design process, strategic thinking, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss your role in each project, the challenges faced, and the solutions implemented.

• Skills Assessment/Creative Challenge: A potential creative challenge or technical assessment may be administered to evaluate your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, motion graphics capabilities, and problem-solving skills under timed conditions.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with hiring managers and key stakeholders from marketing, production, and potentially executive leadership to assess cultural fit, communication skills, and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that directly align with the responsibilities outlined: social-first creative, motion graphics, broadcast graphics, and presentation design. Showcase variety and depth.

• Highlight Process: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the design process, challenges encountered, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use case study format.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., increased engagement, successful sponsorship acquisition, positive feedback). If not quantifiable, articulate the strategic value and intended impact.

• Showcase Versatility: Include examples of both static and animated work, and demonstrate adaptability across different platforms and formats (vertical/horizontal).

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. A dedicated section for PBA-relevant work or a narrative that connects your experience to the role's requirements will be beneficial.

Challenge Preparation:

• Master the Tools: Refresh your skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and especially After Effects. Practice creating common broadcast elements and social media animations.

• Understand the Brand: Research the PBA brand, its current visual identity, and its target audience. Familiarize yourself with recent campaigns and broadcast graphics.

• Think Strategically: Be prepared to discuss how design supports business objectives, such as driving viewership, increasing engagement, or attracting sponsors.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your design choices and rationale concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "strong portfolio demonstrating social-first creative, motion graphics, and presentation design" means candidates should prioritize showcasing these specific areas. The interview process will likely involve a deep dive into the portfolio, so candidates should be prepared to articulate their creative process and the business impact of their design work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects for all core design and animation tasks.

• Motion Graphics Software: Advanced capabilities in After Effects are critical for creating dynamic visual elements.

• Design & Collaboration Platforms: Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams) for remote team interaction and workflow management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary responsibility, understanding how design impacts analytics (e.g., social media engagement metrics) is beneficial. Familiarity with social media analytics dashboards is a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how design assets are integrated into marketing automation or CRM-driven campaigns can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is deep proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite, with a particular emphasis on After Effects for motion graphics. The role requires the ability to produce broadcast-ready graphics and social media assets, indicating a need for efficient workflows and high-quality output from these tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A drive to push creative boundaries and develop fresh, engaging visual content that resonates with sports fans and stakeholders.

• Brand Stewardship: A commitment to maintaining and elevating the visual identity of the PBA and Lucky Strike Entertainment, ensuring consistency and quality across all touchpoints.

• Collaboration & Communication: A proactive approach to working with diverse teams, sharing ideas, and providing constructive feedback to achieve shared goals.

• Efficiency & Adaptability: A focus on developing streamlined design processes and templates, coupled with the ability to adapt quickly to changing project demands and tight deadlines, especially in live-event scenarios.

• Data-Informed Design: An understanding of how design choices impact audience engagement and business objectives, using insights from analytics to refine creative strategies.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Active participation in team meetings and discussions with marketing, social, production, and sponsorship teams to ensure design aligns with broader strategic objectives.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: An open attitude towards receiving and providing constructive feedback on creative work, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and learning.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share design best practices, templates, and insights with colleagues within the PBA and across Lucky Strike Entertainment to elevate the overall design output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely balances the fast-paced, dynamic nature of sports media with the need for structured brand management. A collaborative spirit, combined with a proactive and results-oriented approach, will be key to success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Heritage with Modern Aesthetics: Effectively translating the PBA's established legacy into contemporary, engaging visual content that appeals to a broad audience, including younger demographics.

• High-Volume, Fast-Turn Creative Demands: Managing the rapid pace of content creation required for social media and live broadcasts, often under tight deadlines, while maintaining high quality.

• Cross-Property Brand Alignment: Ensuring visual consistency and synergy between the PBA brand and other Lucky Strike Entertainment properties, requiring a nuanced understanding of different brand identities.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Maintaining strong communication, creative synergy, and project momentum within a remote work environment, particularly for fast-paced, collaborative projects.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to attend industry workshops, webinars, or gain certifications in advanced motion graphics, broadcast design, or social media content strategy.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Potential to be mentored by senior design leaders within Lucky Strike Entertainment or to mentor junior designers, developing leadership capabilities.

• Exposure to Diverse Media: Gaining experience across a wide range of media channels and event types, from major televised championships to viral social media campaigns, broadening professional expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a lead creative role in a dynamic sports media environment. The growth opportunities are significant, offering pathways to deeper specialization, leadership, and broad exposure within a large entertainment organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a visual identity system for a major event like a PBA championship. How do you ensure it's both unique and aligned with the overall brand?" (Focus on process, brand alignment, and strategic thinking)

• "How would you approach creating a social media campaign to increase engagement for the PBA, considering platforms like TikTok and Instagram? What metrics would you track?" (Focus on social media strategy, platform adaptation, and data-driven approach)

• "Walk us through a challenging project where you had to deliver urgent creative assets for a live broadcast or event. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem-solving, time management, and execution under pressure) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about the Professional Bowlers Association and Lucky Strike Entertainment's brand? How do you see your design skills contributing to our growth?" (Focus on research, enthusiasm, and alignment with company mission)

• "How do you typically collaborate with marketing, social media, and production teams? Describe a situation where you had to manage conflicting feedback from different stakeholders." (Focus on collaboration style, communication, and conflict resolution)

• "How do you stay current with design trends in sports, media, and social platforms? Can you give an example of a recent trend you've incorporated into your work?" (Focus on industry awareness and continuous learning) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, frame it as a narrative: the problem, your solution, and the result. Highlight your thought process, not just the final visuals.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, reach, conversion rates). If metrics aren't available, articulate the strategic value and intended impact clearly.

• Focus on Relevance: Emphasize projects that directly relate to social media, motion graphics, broadcast, and presentation design. Tailor your presentation to showcase how your skills meet the PBA's specific needs.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Anticipate questions about your software proficiency, workflow efficiencies, and how you handle technical constraints in broadcast or digital production.

• Showcase Adaptability: Demonstrate your ability to work across different formats (vertical/horizontal) and your understanding of platform-specific design best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to deeply discuss their portfolio projects, focusing on the strategic intent behind their design choices and the measurable impact. Understanding the PBA's audience and the competitive landscape of sports media will be crucial for answering strategic questions effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Lucky Strike Entertainment careers portal.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in graphic design, motion graphics, social media content creation, and broadcast graphics, using keywords from the job description (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects, visual identity, brand consistency). Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Refine Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of social-first creative, motion graphics, and presentation design. Organize it logically, perhaps with a dedicated section for sports/media-related work, and be ready to walk through your process and impact for each piece.

• Research the PBA and Lucky Strike Entertainment: Familiarize yourself with the PBA's current branding, recent campaigns, key events, and the broader Lucky Strike Entertainment portfolio. Understand their target audiences and market position.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and the business impact of your work. Prepare to answer questions about how your skills align with the role's responsibilities and the company's culture.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.