[Hiring] Director of Collections Strategy @Earnest

Role Description

The Director of Collections will report to our Chief Product Officer. As the Director of Collections you will:

• Build and lead the end-to-end collections strategy across personal loans and student loan refinance, with an initial focus on scaling the personal loan portfolio.
• Leverage advanced risk modeling and analytics to design collections and loss-mitigation strategies that improve portfolio performance throughout the delinquency lifecycle while delivering a positive customer experience.
• Design and optimize treatment strategies spanning early-stage outreaches, hardship programs, and pre-charge-off interventions.
• Design and execute tests across digital and traditional communication channels, continuously optimizing customer engagement through rigorous experimentation and measurement.
• Lead the AI integration roadmap for collections strategy and leverage AI tools to improve productivity and outcomes.
• Define and monitor portfolio KPIs, and translate complex data into actionable business decisions.
• Drive clear performance expectations and accountability with third-party vendors, and develop the long-term operating model for the optimal balance between internal capabilities and third-party partners.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in consumer lending collections strategy, with significant ownership of loss mitigation strategy and collections analytics.
• Deep expertise in unsecured consumer lending, preferably Personal Loans, Student Loan Refinance, Credit Cards, or other installment lending products.
• Proven track record of improving collections performance while balancing customer experience, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Strong analytical and quantitative background with extensive experience using data to identify opportunities, develop strategies, and measure business impact.
• Expert understanding of collections performance metrics, charge-offs, and vendor management.
• Proficiency with SQL and familiarity with Python, statistical modeling, and modern business intelligence platforms (e.g., Tableau, Looker).
• Excellent cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to align stakeholders across Risk, Data Science, Product, Engineering, Operations, Legal, Compliance, and Finance.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex analytical findings into clear business recommendations.

Requirements

• Experience building, scaling, or modernizing a collections strategy function in a high-growth fintech or digital lending environment.
• Experience applying AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics to collections strategy, customer engagement, or operational optimization.
• Deep knowledge of collections operations, regulatory requirements, and vendor management.
• Experience with modern digital collections capabilities.

Compensation

A little about our pay philosophy: We take pride in compensating our employees fairly and equitably. We are showcasing a range of your potential base salary based on the role's location. The successful candidate’s starting pay will also be determined based on job-related qualifications, internal compensation, candidate location, and budget. This range may be modified in the future.

Salary Range: $213,000 - $262,000 USD. Employees are also eligible for an annual performance-based bonus and equity.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, & Vision benefits plus savings plans
• Mac computers + work-from-home stipend to set up your home office
• Monthly internet and phone reimbursement
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
• 401(k) plan to help you save for retirement plus a company match
• Robust tuition reimbursement program
• $1,000 travel perk on each Earnie-versary to anywhere in the world
• Competitive days of annual PTO
• Competitive parental leave