Director, Compliance & Controls — Growth

Location: Remote (US)
Anticipated Base Salary Range: $201,200—$278,500 USD

About Upstart

At Upstart, our mission is to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. We leverage creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially. As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand affordable credit access. We are a digital-first company, offering flexibility for most employees to work remotely, with intentional in-person connections through team events.

The Team: Unsecured Consumer Lending

The Unsecured Consumer Lending team at Upstart Bank operates as the first line of defense across product, growth, operations, and customer lifecycle for our personal loan, secured deposit line, and emerging consumer products. Compliance and controls are integral to our scaling process. This team ensures that all borrower, partner, and regulator-facing information is accurate, fair, and examination-ready.

About the Opportunity

This role leads first-line compliance for Upstart’s growth engine, focusing on acquisition channels, marketing programs, partner relationships, and product launches. It's a senior accountability role at the intersection of lending growth and regulatory discipline, shaping how Upstart grows and controls its operations.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Channel & partner oversight: Own first-line compliance and controls for growth functions, reviewing acquisition channels, marketing programs, partner/affiliate relationships, and new product introductions for regulatory, fair lending, and disclosure risk. Approve marketing materials and third-party content before release.
• Regulatory review & approval: Apply expertise in UDAAP, Regulation B, CAN-SPAM, TCPA, and disclosure requirements to the design process, translating regulatory needs into practical guidance for channel launches, partner agreements, and product changes.
• Control framework: Build and maintain the business control framework, including marketing approval policies, campaign change control, compliance monitoring, and regulatory change management. Quantify exposure and calibrate controls based on actual risk.
• Accountability: Own root cause analysis and remediation design for growth-related compliance matters (complaints, risk assessments, marketing claims violations, disclosure errors), driving durable fixes.
• Influence: Act as a trusted compliance partner, enabling Growth, Product, Marketing, and ML teams to move with clarity and speed, while representing the business to second-line compliance, Legal, and auditors. Maintain examination-ready documentation and serve as the primary point of contact in audits.
• Team leadership: Build and develop a compliance team with depth across consumer protection, marketing, and acquisition channel regulation. Set standards for analytical rigor, proactive issue identification, and practical guidance.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 7+ years in compliance, legal, or risk management in consumer lending, banking, or fintech.
• Direct experience in marketing compliance, customer acquisition oversight, or partner/affiliate compliance.
• Deep working knowledge of consumer protection regulations for loan marketing and offer generation (UDAAP, Regulation B, CAN-SPAM, TCPA, state laws).
• Demonstrated experience managing a first-line compliance function in a bank-regulated environment, with clear accountability and credibility with regulators, internal audit, and senior leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to apply UDAAP, Regulation B, and consumer protection frameworks to novel marketing and channel contexts, quantifying exposure and prioritizing controls.
• Experience supporting OCC, CFPB, or state regulatory examinations.
• Track record of identifying compliance gaps and proposing solutions before they escalate.
• Familiarity with secured consumer lending marketing compliance.
• Familiarity with AI/ML-driven credit decisioning and AI tools for compliance efficiency.

Position Location & Time Zone Requirements:

• Remote (US).
• The team operates on East/West coast time zones.

Travel Requirements:

• Majority of work can be accomplished remotely. Regular onsites for in-person collaboration (frequency varies by team).

What you'll love:

• Competitive compensation (base pay, bonus, equity).
• 401(k) match up to $15,000 annually.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision).
• Health Savings Account contributions.
• Income protection benefits (life insurance, disability).
• Generous paid time off, sick leave, and holidays.
• Paid family and parental leave.
• Family-centered benefits.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Financial wellness resources.
• Annual wellness and productivity allowances.
• Connection and community through team events and ERGs.
• Onsite perks at office locations.

Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you require reasonable accommodation, please email candidate_accommodations@upstart.com.

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