Vendor Management Program Manager, Home Lending

Upstart Inc.•San Mateo, CA

54d•Remote

About The Position

Upstart's Home Lending vertical is seeking a Vendor Management Program Manager to establish and run a new, centralized vendor management function. This role will be responsible for building the foundation for consistent vendor oversight, quality and performance tracking, risk control, and change management across our Home Lending operations and product teams. You will be the primary owner of vendor relationships and process, driving accountability, creating structure, and ensuring our external partners enable efficient, compliant, and scalable operations. As the Program Manager at Upstart, you think strategically and analytically, approach challenges with a solutions mindset, and excel at improving processes and workflows. You take full ownership of initiatives from concept to execution, operating independently while driving meaningful results. You also communicate clearly and build strong, collaborative relationships with both internal teams and external vendors.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of experience in an Operations Vendor Management position within a financial institution or fintech
Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills
Proven track record of process improvements, problem solving and effective task prioritization
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Nice To Haves

Experience in Home Lending vendor partnerships
Understanding of complex or securitized asset products
Experience establishing vendor governance processes or performance frameworks

Responsibilities

Design and manage the vendor management framework for Home Lending
Oversee vendor performance and governance by defining metrics, scorecards, and review cadences
Develop and lead robust quality control function to ensure process accuracy, compliance, and operational excellence
Create and deliver training programs that upskill internal teams on vendor processes and best practices
Identify and mitigate vendor risk related to cost, performance, and compliance
Partner across Product, Legal & Compliance, Finance and other teams to align vendor activities with business goals
Continuously improve vendor operations through data analysis and structured process enhancements

Benefits

Competitive Compensation (base + bonus & equity)
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart
401(k) with 100% company match up to $4,500 and immediate vesting and after-tax savings
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
Life and disability insurance
Generous holiday, vacation, sick and safety leave
Supportive parental, family care, and military leave programs
Annual wellness, technology & ergonomic reimbursement programs
Social activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates, employee resource groups (ERGs), and other interest groups such as book clubs, fitness, investing, and volunteering
Catered lunches + snacks & drinks when working in offices