Dealer Development Manager, North Houston

Upgrade•Houston, TX

20h•Onsite

About The Position

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: The Dealer Development Manager will represent Upgrade Inc (Auto Finance Division) and promote our indirect lending programs. They will develop, maintain, and grow business partnerships between Upgrade Inc. and our dealership partners. The Dealer Development Manager is also responsible for staying up-to-date on local market conditions and industry trends. In this role, you will work with internal partners to find solutions that better serve our customers, and build long lasting relationships with key decision makers to drive growth and continuous improvement. This position requires residency in the North Houston, TX market.

Requirements

2+ years of experience in indirect auto finance, auto sales, or related field
Strong understanding of credit tiers, loan structuring, and dealership operations
Proven ability to build relationships and drive sales growth
Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
Self-motivated with strong time management and territory planning skills
Ability to travel locally (significant field time required)
English is required for all positions, as it involves interacting with staff at Upgrade's offices worldwide.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain relationships with new and existing dealer partners
Act as a trusted advisor to dealership owners, GMs, and F&I managers
Conduct regular in-person dealership visits based on a structured drive schedule
Deliver consistent follow-up and service to ensure dealer satisfaction and loyalty
Identify, onboard, and activate new dealer partners
Drive dealer sign-ups and first deals (“activation”)
Re-engage inactive dealers (e.g., no deals in 90 days) and return them to production
Execute onboarding training to ensure dealers understand programs and systems
Achieve monthly funding and application volume goals
Increase contracts per active dealer and overall territory production
Focus on growing volume in Tier 3–5 segments while maintaining quality
Drive penetration targets (e.g., 3+ and 5+ deals per dealer per month)
Partner closely with underwriting/credit teams to structure deals effectively
Educate dealers on program guidelines, stips, and deal packaging
Improve pull-through by coaching dealers on submitting clean, fundable deals
Monitor dealer portfolio performance (delinquency, charge-offs, profitability)
Manage dealer mix to align with company risk appetite and profitability goals
Shift focus toward preferred collateral and higher-performing dealers
Ensure adherence to compliance, credit policies, and documentation standards
Conduct ongoing product and process training with dealership staff
Educate dealers on value-added products
Provide market insights and best practices to improve dealer success
Position the company as a relationship-driven partner vs. transactional lender
Maintain a disciplined weekly drive schedule maximizing in-person dealer time
Track and manage activity through CRM (e.g., Salesforce)
Analyze territory performance and adjust strategy based on data
Participate in team calls, sales meetings, and performance reviews