Talent Acquisition Specialist - International Programs

October 20, 2026
Panama City Beach, FL, US
$20 – $25/hr
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Who We Are

Lucky Strike Entertainment, formerly Bowlero Corp, is one of the world’s premier location-based entertainment platforms. With over 360 locations across North America, Lucky Strike Entertainment provides experiential offerings in bowling, amusements, water parks, and family entertainment centers. The company also owns the Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling and a growing media property that boasts millions of fans around the globe. For more information on Lucky Strike Entertainment, please visit ir.luckystrikeent.com.

Overview

Who We Are

Lucky Strike Entertainment, formerly Bowlero Corp, is one of the world's premier location-based entertainment platforms. With over 360 locations across North America, Lucky Strike Entertainment provides experiential offerings in bowling, amusements, water parks, and family entertainment centers. The company also owns the Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling and a growing media property that boasts millions of fans around the globe.

Summary

The Talent Acquisition Specialist - International Programs owns and coordinates the park's J-1 international student hiring program from end to end, including compliance, sponsor and vendor relationships, associate documentation, housing, onboarding, and offboarding. This role reports to the Hourly Talent Acquisition Manager and is based in Panama City Beach, FL, supporting Shipwreck Island Waterpark and Big Kahuna's Waterpark in Destin, FL. It requires working knowledge of the J-1 visa hiring process and the seasonal hiring timeline for Panama City Beach, strong financial responsibility, and the organizational discipline to manage many moving parts across preseason, park operation season, and postseason.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Primary duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

J-1 Program Administration

  • Own and coordinate the full J-1 hiring process, including compliance requirements, vendor/sponsor relationships, and the seasonal hiring timeline for Panama City Beach.
  • Outline and maintain the annual J-1 program timeline, covering preseason, park operation season, and postseason milestones.
  • Analyze and project seasonal staffing needs and departure trends based on DS-2019 end dates.
  • Research housing properties during the off-season to identify and secure suitable accommodations ahead of the coming season.
  • Monitor embassy processing updates affecting J-1 candidates and factor them into hiring and arrival planning.
  • Track terminations of international students and update relevant systems and stakeholders accordingly.

Documentation & Compliance

  • Own, manage, and monitor associate documentation statuses, including DS-2019s, Social Security Numbers, I-94s, passports, and other related documentation.
  • Conduct regular follow-ups to resolve missing, expiring, or incomplete documentation.
  • Process I-9 corrections as needed.
  • Track and respond to Further Action Notices in a timely manner.

Sponsor & Stakeholder Relations

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for J-1 sponsors and international student associates during preseason, park operation season, and postseason.
  • Build and maintain strong working relationships with J-1 sponsor organizations and vendors.
  • Follow up on documentation appointment requests, discrepancies, and corrections on behalf of sponsors and students.
  • Serve as the point of contact for referrals related to the J-1 program.
  • Work closely with HR, HRIS, the Administrative Assistant, the Management Team, and the Talent Acquisition team to support the J-1 program.

Housing & Logistics

  • Track student flight itineraries and proactively update relevant team members with onboarding arrival dates and times.
  • Set clear expectations with students regarding arrival dates and times at the park.
  • Outline the international student arrival/departure schedule in coordination with the park's operating schedule and the Talent Acquisition team to minimize overlap and staffing gaps.
  • Manage housing assignments and help conduct housing inspections for J-1 associates.
  • Communicate with landlords to resolve housing-related issues as they arise.
  • Procure furniture and household items as needed, and conduct per-person cost analysis (rent, furniture, and related expenses).
  • Transport students as needed, including airport pickups/drop-offs and trips to the Social Security office.

Onboarding & Offboarding

  • Assist with J-1 onboarding and hiring processing within iCIMS and UKG.
  • Partner with managers to identify and re-engage associates eligible to return for future seasons.
  • Assist with end-of-season preparation to ensure a smooth offboarding process for international associates.
  • Coordinate housing cleanout support at the conclusion of the season.

General Responsibilities

  • Travel between Shipwreck Island Waterpark in Panama City Beach, FL and Big Kahuna's Waterpark in Destin, FL as needed, with Panama City Beach as the primary work location.
  • Work extended workdays to support business needs, particularly during preseason and postseason.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.

  • Existing understanding of the J-1 hiring process, including compliance requirements, sponsor/vendor relationships, and seasonal hiring timelines (required).
  • Located in or near Panama City Beach, FL, with the willingness to drive between Shipwreck Island Waterpark and Destin, FL (Big Kahuna's Waterpark) (required).
  • Valid driver's license and willingness to transport students to and from the airport and appointments.
  • Demonstrated financial responsibility, including sound judgment managing program costs, procurement, and per-person cost analysis.
  • Highly detail-oriented, with strong organizational and follow-up skills across many concurrent workstreams.
  • Self-starter who can manage ambiguity and drive a multi-phase annual program with minimal oversight.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills for working with sponsors, landlords, managers, and international student associates.
  • Ability to handle sensitive information, including SSNs, passports, and immigration documents, confidentially and with integrity.
  • Experience with iCIMS, UKG, or comparable ATS/HRIS platforms preferred.

Education and Experience

Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • 2+ years' experience in HR, talent acquisition, international programs, or a related field.

Preferred

  • Experience with J-1 visa programs or international student/employee populations.
  • 1+ years' experience working with HRIS and applicant tracking systems (e.g., iCIMS, UKG).

Work Environment/Physical Demands

General office environment based primarily in Panama City Beach, FL, with regular travel to Destin, FL. Involves regular local travel (e.g., airport runs, housing visits) and periods of walking, standing, and driving.

Benefits

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $25.00 per hour, depending on qualifications.

Lucky Strike Entertainment offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package which includes healthcare coverage and other benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, employee assistance program (EAP), life insurance, disability insurance, and paid time off. More details regarding benefits are available here: Lucky Strike Entertainment Benefits