Director, Card Growth & Risk Initiatives

Upgrade helps customers move in the right direction with affordable and responsible financial products. Since 2017, we’ve helped over 7.5 million customers access over $42 billion in consumer credit. With a relentless focus on improving our customers' financial well-being, we build products that put more money in their pocket and support their journey toward a better financial future. We’re backed by some of the most prominent technology investors and were most recently valued at $7.3B.

We’re consistently recognized for our collaborative and inclusive culture. Most recently, we were named one of the World’s Top Fintech Companies by CNBC, Best Places to Work by Built In, Best Places to Work by the San Francisco Business Times, America’s Greatest Workplaces by Newsweek, Best Startup Employer by Forbes, and Healthiest Employers by Phoenix Business Journal.

We’re looking for new team members who get excited about designing and delivering new and better products. Come join us and help build a better financial future for millions of people.

About the Role:

We're seeking a hands-on and data-driven Director to lead Card Credit R&D and Growth Initiatives. In this role, you'll drive and deliver a variety of strategic, high impact initiatives that unlock and accelerate growth of our Credit Card business. You will creatively use internal/external data, business judgement, and scenario analysis to develop business cases for new initiatives. You will partner cross-functionally to advocate for high value initiatives, develop plans to implement and scale, and report results to leadership. Your work will drive sustainable and responsible growth in Cards, advance our ability to serve a larger customer base, and ensure predictable and strong returns from our Card product.

This role will be based in our Wilmington or San Francisco office in a hybrid capacity.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide credit risk leadership, policy design, and support to launch prioritized strategic initiatives, such as (but not limited to)

o Enhanced scale in Affinity Segments

o Expand into new customer segments with customized approaches

o Enable / support marketing initiatives with credit risk interactions,

such as credit line marketing to prospective customers

• Identify and pursue new growth opportunities

• Develop a forward-looking agenda to deliver continued growth and influence the organization to rally behind it

• Evaluate opportunities, propose tests, and build business cases to unlock future card growth

• Combine test results, internal and external market data, and business judgement to deliver responsible growth

• Test cash flow underwriting use-cases, evaluate business case to deploy at scale, and develop policies to unlock growth

• Develop and enhance Intentional Credit Misuse / Synthetic U/W defenses

• Partner cross-functionally to implement and scale

• Track performance of initiatives, identify further opportunities to enhance and report recommendations/results to leadership

What We Look For:

• 7+ years of experience in consumer finance, consulting, or other data-driven backgrounds

• Deep experience with consumer lending / credit risk, particularly in credit cards

• Data-driven and independent problem solver

• Strong communicator with a knack for identifying the business intuition behind complexity

• Comfort with solving white-space problems and identifying reasonable paths in the face of ambiguity

• Strong proficiency in SQL, Excel (Python is a plus)

What We Offer You:

• Competitive salary and stock option plan

• Paid coverage of medical, dental and vision insurance

• Flexible PTO

• Competitive 401(k)

• Opportunities for professional growth and development

• Paid parental leave

• Health & wellness initiatives

The compensation range of this position is USD $190,000 - 220,000 annually plus equity and benefits. Please note that the actual base pay will be dependent on a variety of factors, including without limitation, job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience.

Environmental & Working Conditions

• Work is performed indoors in a fast-paced environment that requires the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet established workflows, schedules, and service expectations.
• Employees regularly input, retrieve, and exchange information accurately using digital systems and applications to support operational and customer service objectives.
• The role requires the ability to receive and exchange information with customers, peers, supervisors, and cross-functional partners through available communication channels, which may include meetings, email, phone, and digital collaboration tools, and may involve real-time, verbal, or in-person exchanges depending on business need.
• Job duties may involve managing a high volume of inbound and/or outbound customer interactions and work activities using telecommunications and computer systems. The role requires the ability to read, analyze, and interpret information displayed on computer screens and remain in a working posture for extended periods, consistent with the demands of the position.
• Work may be performed in a contact center, office, or remote environment, depending on business needs and the nature of the role. Onsite work environments may include shared workspaces, standard office lighting, and moderate background noise typical of customer service or operational settings.
• Employees working remotely are responsible for maintaining a secure and productive workspace with reliable internet connectivity that supports company systems and safeguards the confidentiality of company and customer information. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Upgrade does not accept unsolicited resumes from staffing agencies, search firms, or any third parties. Any resume submitted to any employee of Upgrade without a prior written agreement in place will be considered the property of Upgrade, and Upgrade will not be obligated to pay any referral or placement fee. Agencies must obtain advance written approval from Upgrade's Talent Acquisition department to submit resumes and only in conjunction with a valid, fully executed agreement . English is required for all positions, as it involves interacting with staff at Upgrade's offices worldwide.