[Hiring] Senior Manager, Whole Loan Trading & First-Line Model Governance @Upstart

Role Description

As the Senior Manager, Whole Loan Trading & First-Line Model Governance at Upstart, you will own this function end-to-end, reporting directly to the Head of Secured Lending. You will lead a small team of analysts and partner closely with various departments to establish the methodology, monitoring cadence, governance materials, and reporting routines that keep Upstart’s secured lending portfolio within risk appetite and exam-ready.

How you'll make an impact

• Lead the secured lending asset quality and loan salability function across home equity line of credit, auto direct, and auto indirect dealer channels.
• Set the review methodology, operating cadence, reporting standards, and escalation routines for a small team of asset quality analysts.
• Monitor portfolio-level salability risk across secured lending channels.
• Track eligibility adherence trends, defect patterns, collateral documentation quality, and exception concentrations.
• Escalate repurchase and put-back risk to Capital Markets and bank partners before they affect loan sale execution or partner commitments.
• Monitor asset quality and portfolio performance indicators tied to salability.
• Evaluate origination and channel quality across secured lending programs.
• Own first-line model implementation and performance oversight for secured lending models.
• Translate loan review findings, portfolio trends, and model performance signals into action.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in business-line credit risk, loan quality, asset-backed or secured lending operations, or first-line model governance.
• Experience with loan-level quality review, loan salability oversight, Capital Markets or investor delivery, repurchase or put-back risk, bank partner audits, collateral documentation review, or pre-sale quality control in a regulated lending environment.
• Experience monitoring portfolio performance and asset quality indicators across multiple origination channels.
• Experience with first-line model oversight, production model monitoring, model implementation governance, model inventory documentation, or model performance escalation processes.
• Experience partnering with Capital Markets, investors, bank partners, or funding teams.
• Experience leading analysts, managing a review function, or owning cross-functional loan salability, asset quality, credit, or first-line model governance programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with auto indirect or dealer channel lending dynamics.
• Knowledge of secured lending and secondary-market quality expectations.
• Knowledge of consumer lending and fair lending requirements relevant to secured products.
• Ability to evaluate production model execution, validation outputs, and performance trends.
• Skilled in producing exam-ready policy documents, governance materials, issue tracking, executive summaries, and bank partner reporting.
• Risk or compliance certification, such as Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager, Financial Risk Manager, or equivalent credential.

Position location

This role is available in the following locations: Remote

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 spend high-quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites.

Salary Information

The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the range of $172,100 — $238,300 USD.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants.
• Retirement benefits, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options.
• Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources.
• Health Savings Account contributions for eligible plans.
• Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage.
• Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays.
• Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments.
• Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support.
• Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools.
• Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being.
• Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources.
• Connection and community through team events and employee resource groups (ERGs).
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens.