Director of Fair Lending

How you’ll make an impact

• Own the fair lending risk assessment framework and provide independent challenge and guidance on control design across Upstart’s products, features, and services, identifying, evaluating, and escalating risks in close partnership with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Define and execute a comprehensive fair lending risk assessment program that supports regulatory compliance and Upstart’s mission to expand access to credit responsibly.
• Leverage data, analytics, and monitoring outputs to identify emerging risk themes and inform proactive mitigation strategies.
• Provide subject matter expertise, guidance, and coverage across fair lending initiatives, supporting execution and progress in a fast-moving, highly regulated environment.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives and working groups on a project basis, driving alignment, clarity, and risk-informed outcomes on complex and ambiguous issues.
• Influence decision-making by maintaining deep, current knowledge of regulatory expectations and industry best practices, and by translating risk insights into clear, actionable guidance.
• Communicate key fair lending risk themes, assessments, and insights to senior leadership and relevant governance forums, including the Fair Lending and board level committees.

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in fair lending and consumer protection compliance (e.g., in compliance, legal, audit, or risk management) within financial services or fintech, including direct ownership of ECOA/FHA programs, testing, and remediation.
• Deep, expert-level knowledge of fair lending and consumer protection laws and guidance (ECOA, FHA, FCRA, UDAAP, privacy) and how they apply across the credit lifecycle (marketing, underwriting, pricing, servicing, collections).
• Hands-on experience designing and operationalizing second-line risk management or compliance programs, including risk identification, control design, testing and monitoring, training and enablement, and third-party oversight.
• Proven track record leading enterprise-wide fair lending or consumer protection initiatives, influencing senior and cross-functional stakeholders, and engaging effectively with regulators, external auditors, or monitors on fair lending matters.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with modern predictive modeling techniques and associated governance, privacy, and fairness considerations
• Comfort partnering with technical teams to operationalize compliance expectations in technology-enabled environments
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory and risk topics for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience implementing regulatory exam management tools, evidence repositories, or data-driven compliance workflows
• Strong organizational judgment, attention to detail, and ability to operate effectively under regulatory scrutiny
• JD, CRCM, or other advanced compliance or risk management certifications