About Upstart
Upstart is the leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. By leveraging Upstart's AI marketplace, Upstart-powered banks and credit unions can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates across races, ages, and genders, while simultaneously delivering the exceptional digital-first lending experience their customers demand. More than 80% of borrowers are approved instantly, with zero documentation to upload.
Upstart is a digital-first company, which means that most Upstarters live and work anywhere in the United States. However, we also have offices in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; Austin, Texas; and New York City, NY (opening Summer 2026).
Most Upstarters join us because they connect with our mission of enabling access to effortless credit based on true risk. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Upstart, we’d love to hear from you!
The Team:
We are seeking a driven and detail-oriented Executive Recruiter to join the Executive Search team. This individual will play a critical role in sourcing top-tier executive talent, helping us build a world-class leadership team. This position requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is not afraid to push boundaries, and is relentless in their pursuit of the best talent. The right candidate will embody our core values and operate with a bias for action, a focus on long-term success, and an analytical mindset.
As part of the Executive Recruiting team at Upstart, you’ll help shape the leaders who steer our most ambitious work—from generative AI to new product bets to organizational transformation. We believe executive recruiting is a force multiplier for business success. If you're energized by ambiguity, thrive on intellectual challenge, and can blend tenacity with humility, we’d love to talk.
How you’ll make an impact
As part of our dynamic and fast-moving Talent Acquisition team, you will partner closely with hiring managers and leadership to identify and attract top executive talent. You'll work with a range of advanced tools and methodologies to generate insights, build talent pools, and guide our hiring strategy.
Responsibilities:
- Act with urgency: Partner with hiring managers to understand strategic hiring needs and deliver talent research and insights faster than the competition.
- Research with precision: Build in-depth talent maps, conduct market research, and identify high-potential candidates across multiple business units and geographies. Leverage a wide range of sourcing tools beyond LinkedIn, such as web searches, industry reports, conferences, and whitepapers.
- Solve problems proactively: When issues arise, you’ll take responsibility and take action to address them, making sure that nothing falls through the cracks.
- Generate actionable insights: Use data-driven insights to inform search strategy and provide guidance to Talent Acquisition partners on market trends, talent availability, and competitor intelligence.
- Think probabilistically: Approach challenges by thinking in terms of probabilities and measuring everything you can. Apply logic, precision, and creativity in your research process.
- Learn and iterate: Be open to feedback, acknowledge mistakes, and continuously improve your approach, always striving for the best possible results.
- Be a talent market advisor: Share insights and trends with stakeholders to help shape the hiring strategy and influence key decisions.
- Operate like a consultant: You’re not here to take orders—you’re here to guide. You’ll ask hard questions, shape the search thesis, and challenge assumptions with data, insight, and market intelligence.
- Build across pipelines, not reqs: Our work is portfolio-based, not transactional. You’ll nurture long-term relationships, identify multi-fit leaders, and think across verticals to maximize our talent advantage.
Minimum Qualifications
- 6+ years of experience in executive search, talent research, or an equivalent in-house function.
- Experience with full-lifecycle leadership recruiting, including sourcing through closing.
- Proven track record of sourcing executive-level technical talent across a variety of industries
- Ability to work with changing requirements and senior stakeholders with gravitas, humility, and partnership at the core.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ability to navigate complex sourcing channels, including social media, databases, industry publications, and event attendee lists.
- Strong proficiency with sourcing tools and techniques such as LinkedIn Recruiter, Google X-Ray, Boolean search, Juicebox AI, or other AI-driven sourcing tools.
- Passion for solving hard-to-find talent problems and an eagerness to explore new, innovative sourcing strategies.
- Comfortable working in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment and juggling multiple projects with shifting priorities.
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 to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; the Talent Acquisition team meets quarterly for 2-3 consecutive days at a time.
What you'll love:
- Competitive Compensation (base + bonus & equity)
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart
- Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
- 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
#LI-REMOTE
#LI-MidSenior
At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k).
Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Just as we are dedicated to improving access to affordable credit for all, we are committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email [email protected]
https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy
Top Skills
Upstart San Mateo, California, USA Office
Upstart's office in San Mateo is located on the peninsula between San Francisco and the South Bay with easy Caltrain access and proximity to several apartment complexes. The office is close to several shopping donations including an outdoor beer garden.
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