Director of Enterprise Risk Management

Upstart

4h•Remote

About The Position

At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence. As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 1,800 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress. We’re proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you’ll have the support to work in the way that works best for you. If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you. Upstart’s Risk team is hiring to enhance its second line of defense function in support of its application to establish a national bank. The Risk team is responsible for Upstart’s enterprise risk management program and risk governance, as well as for providing independent oversight and credible challenge across the following risk categories: operational risk, treasury risk (including liquidity risk, interest rate risk, price risk, and capital management), and operational risk. We partner with first-line business functions, senior and executive leadership, and the board of directors to ensure effective identification and assessment, measurement, monitoring and reporting, and response and control for all core risk types and in alignment with regulatory expectations. Upstart is hiring a Director, Enterprise Risk Management to lead and grow the Risk team’s ERM function for Upstart Bank. This role will establish, maintain, and continually enhance the bank’s ERM program and framework, including: management and maintenance of the risk appetite statement and other ERM program governing documents; ownership of risk assessment processes and methodologies; collection and monitoring of risk metrics; coordination of all risk governance activities, including aggregated management and board risk reporting. Additionally, this role will oversee the operational risk team responsible for conducting ongoing risk and control assessments across the bank’s operations. This includes establishing an operational risk program framework and risk assessment schedule, recommending actions to mitigate operational risk, and producing risk reporting and insights on the bank’s aggregated operational risk profile, trends, and high risk areas. This role will manage the ERM Program and Operational Risk teams, and will be responsible for building out existing risk infrastructure and processes to meet the rigorous expectations of a nationally chartered bank, including hiring additional roles to expand existing team capacity. As a senior member of the Risk organization, this role works collaboratively with internal leaders across all three lines of defense, and will serve as a primary point of contact for management as well as external stakeholders such as bank examiners on matters related to the bank’s ERM and Operational Risk programs, including during the charter application process.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience
10+ years of experience in enterprise risk management in a banking or financial services environment
Demonstrated experience building or leading an enterprise risk management program, including risk framework development, risk assessment methodology, quantitative risk measurement, and risk governance
Direct experience working with OCC, Federal Reserve, or other federal banking regulator examination processes

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (MBA, JD, or equivalent) or professional risk certification
Experience at a de novo bank, bank holding company, or OCC-regulated institution at an early stage of build-out
Experience leading cross-functional risk teams spanning multiple risk domains
Familiarity with OCC Comptroller's Handbook standards for ERM, operational risk, and risk governance
Strong quantitative skills with experience in risk data aggregation, KRI design, and GRC tool management
Experience presenting to board-level risk committees or senior executive leadership on risk programs and results

Responsibilities

Define and maintain the Bank's enterprise risk management framework, including risk appetite statement, risk assessment methodology, and aggregated risk reporting
Lead the ERM Program team in executing enterprise risk assessments; maintaining risk and control inventories and gap tracking; and measuring risk quantitatively via key risk indicators for all risk categories
Ensure consistent quantitative and qualitative risk identification, assessment, and measurement methodologies
Direct the team's work on risk committee and board reporting, policy management, and ERM program maintenance and execution
Direct the Operational Risk Program activities, ensuring consistent assessment methodology is applied across all product lines and providing actionable analysis and insights on high risk areas requiring action
Serve as a senior point of escalation and relationship manager for external stakeholders including OCC examiners, internal and external auditors, capital markets partners, and lending partners
Develop, manage, and hire for the ERM Program and Operational Risk Program teams

Benefits

Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options - Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose
Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, with options to purchase supplemental coverage
Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays
Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments
Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources
Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service
Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you
Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from
Connection and community through team events and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).