Head of Recovery Strategy

About UpstartUpstart is the leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. By leveraging Upstart's AI marketplace, Upstart-powered banks and credit unions can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates across races, ages, and genders, while delivering the exceptional digital-first lending experience their customers demand. More than 80% of borrowers are approved instantly, with zero documentation to upload.Upstart is a digital-first company, which means that most Upstarters live and work anywhere in the United States. However, we also have offices in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.Most Upstarters join us because they connect with our mission of enabling access to effortless credit based on true risk. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Upstart, we’d love to hear from youThe TeamThe Recovery team at Upstart is responsible for maximizing post-default recoveries while ensuring compliant, borrower-centric engagement across a diverse and growing vendor ecosystem. As our Recovery operations mature, we are investing in building smarter, more scalable systems that reduce manual risk, improve data-driven decisions, and align our vendor network with long-term strategic outcomes.We are seeking a Head of Recovery Strategy to lead our transformation roadmap across vendor integration, automation, compliance infrastructure, and intelligent placement logic. This individual will work cross-functionally across Product, Engineering, Compliance, Legal, Data Analytics, and Operations to architect the next evolution of Recovery operations at Upstart.How you’ll make an impactLead Recovery’s transformation roadmap: Design and deliver high-impact initiatives that reduce manual risk, automate vendor workflows, and scale internal process efficiency across legal recovery, bankruptcy, affidavits, DSC, debt sales, and probate.Architect scalable vendor infrastructure: Enhance frameworks for vendor onboarding, integration, compliance scorecards, and audit-readiness, ensuring Recovery is built to scale intelligently across a growing multi-vendor ecosystem.Enhance and operationalize Recovery KPIs: Collaborate with Ops and Analytics to define, implement, and monitor a comprehensive suite of performance and risk metrics across Recovery verticals—ensuring every vendor strategy and system enhancement is grounded in measurable success criteria.Quantify and optimize placement strategy: Partner with data analytics, ML, and operations to improve liquidation and cost-to-collect through segmentation logic, hypothesis-driven testing, and performance-based routing.Drive analytical and cross-functional execution: Lead strategic programs from concept to implementation—including the rollout of tools like Convoke, legal collections testing, and compliance health models—grounded in measurable ROI and portfolio-level impact.Own Recovery’s strategic alignment layer: Serve as the connective tissue between Product, Engineering, Legal, ML, and Ops to ensure programs are modeled, implemented, and monitored with discipline.Enable performance & quality execution: You'll complement operational leadership by enabling managers with scalable tools, systems, and decision frameworks—not by running day-to-day vendor performance.Lead and scale a small strategic enablement team: May manage 1–2 ICs (project or program managers) focused on executing recovery transformation initiatives—including automation, issues management, vendor enhancements, compliance workflows, and metric monitoring. You’ll guide executional velocity while staying deeply involved in program strategy and prioritization.Minimum Qualifications8+ years of experience in product strategy, operations, or transformation program leadership in a regulated or financial services environmentProven success leading analytically rigorous initiatives involving ROI modeling, hypothesis-driven testing, and cost-benefit analysis while leading complex, cross-functional initiatives involving vendors, risk/compliance, and technology teamsDemonstrated ability to estimate financial impact at the unit and portfolio level (e.g., revenue per transaction, net present value over time)Demonstrated experience applying process design, automation, or analytics to solve operational problemsExcellent project management skills and the ability to organize and drive multiple workstreamsDemonstrated ability to structure ambiguous problems, develop hypotheses, and present recommendationsExcellent communicator: able to synthesize complex analyses into clear, actionable roadmapsProven analytical skills, with the ability to monitor performance metrics and make data-driven decisionsFamiliarity with compliance and operational risk frameworks in regulated financial operationsAbility to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with a strong sense of urgencyPreferred QualificationsComfort building and interpreting unit economics models, breakeven analysis, and performance scenariosExperience leading or collaborating on ML- or rule-based segmentation strategies for operational decisioningStrong fluency with quantitative tools (SQL, Excel modeling, Looker, or scripting languages)MBA from a top-tier business school3+ years of People management experienceStrong familiarity with regulated financial services operations or collections/recovery environmentsExperience in legal collections, recovery optimization, debt sale analytics, or servicing vendor strategyImmense curiosity about root causes—thinks critically from first principles and never stops asking questionsA natural thought-partner: open-minded, collaborative, and able to co-create new ideas with cross-functional teamsExperience working in fintech, financial services, or consulting (e.g. strategy, risk, vendor management)Familiarity with tools like Convoke, Salesforce, AppScript, or vendor audit and control softwareExperience with compliance, vendor due diligence, or regulatory exam preparationPosition locationThis role is available in the following locations: Remote.Time zone requirementsThe team operates on the East/West coast time zones.Travel requirementsAs a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time. Potential for some vendor site travel; length and cadence to be determined.What you\'ll loveCompetitive Compensation (base + bonus & equity)Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart401(k) with 100% company match up to $4,500 and immediate vesting and after-tax savingsEmployee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)Life and disability insuranceGenerous holiday, vacation, sick and safety leaveSupportive parental, family care, and military leave programsAnnual wellness, technology & ergonomic reimbursement programsSocial activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates, employee resource groups (ERGs), and other interest groups such as book clubs, fitness, investing, and volunteeringCatered lunches + snacks & drinks when working in officesUnited States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range $127,200 — $176,000 USDUpstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to ensuring that underrepresented classes receive better access to affordable credit, and are just as committed to embracing diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices. We celebrate all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, and know that we can only become better together.If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email candidate_accommodations@upstart.comhttps://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy #J-18808-Ljbffr