Senior Partnerships Manager, Emerging Products

The Team: 

Upstart’s Growth Partnerships team creates, manages, and expands  a diverse and growing set of partnerships that help Upstart acquire, retain, and better serve our customers. We work with  mission-aligned companies to expand Upstart’s reach and impact - companies whose customers can benefit from effortless credit, or whose products add value for our own customers. As one of Upstart’s  primary engines of customer acquisition, the partnerships  we create and grow are central to Upstart’s success. 

As the Senior Partnerships Manager, Emerging Products  at Upstart you will drive growth through partnerships for our Auto Lending and Small Dollar Relief Loan business lines . This includes optimizing existing partnerships and creating new strategic relationships that expand Upstart’s reach and drive customer acquisition. You will work cross-functionally with Product, Marketing, Analytics,  and the GMs of our lending products to ensure seamless execution of partnership strategies.

Position Location - This role is available in the following locations: Remote

Time Zone Requirements - This team operates on the East/West Coast time zones. 

Travel Requirements - As 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.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Identify, evaluate, and create new strategic partnerships to expand distribution and customer acquisition for our emerging lending products.
• Manage, grow, and optimize existing partnerships, ensuring they drive long term value for our customers, our partners, and Upstart
• Collaborate closely with our Emerging Product GMs and senior stakeholders to align your investments with product goals, vision, and customer needs.
• Negotiate and structure long term, multi-million dollar partnership agreements 
• Analyze partnership performance data to assess impact, identify opportunities for improvement, and optimize strategies.
• Develop go-to-market strategies and co-marketing initiatives with partners to increase Upstart’s brand presence and adoption.
• Stay ahead of industry trends in fintech, lending, and partnerships to inform and adapt Upstart’s partnership strategy.

What we’re looking for: 

• Minimum qualifications:
  
  • 10+ years of experience, including  strategic partnerships, business development, or growth roles
  • Proven track record of sourcing, negotiating, and managing partnerships that drive measurable business impact
  • Strong analytical skills with experience using data-driven insights to optimize partnership performance.
  • Exceptional communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and work with senior stakeholders.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where adaptability and problem-solving are key.

• Preferred qualifications:
  
  • Partnerships / business development experience in financial technology industry
  • Strong financial modeling and business case development skillset 
  • Deep familiarity with BI tools such as Looker, Tableau, or Mode
  • Background in contract negotiation and structuring complex deals

What you'll love: 

• Competitive Compensation (base + bonus & equity)
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart 
• 401(k) with 100% company match up to $4,500 and immediate vesting and after-tax savings
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Life and disability insurance
• Generous holiday, vacation, sick and safety leave  
• Supportive parental, family care, and military leave programs
• Annual wellness, technology & ergonomic reimbursement programs
• Social activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates, employee resource groups (ERGs), and other interest groups such as book clubs, fitness, investing, and volunteering
• Catered lunches + snacks & drinks when working in offices

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