Director of Brand Media and Sponsorships

About Upstart 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. The Team: Upstart’s Growth Marketing team drives scalable, data-driven customer acquisition across our lending products. We design, execute, and optimize media strategies that connect consumers to credit at the moments that matter most. This year, Upstart will begin to make investments in bringing our brand story to life, and with it, make Upstart a true power-house brand in fintech. We’re seeking a new Head of Brand Media to lead that charge. As Director of Brand Media & Sponsorships at Upstart, you will own the strategy, execution, and measurement of our brand media investments and external sponsorships. This role is net-new and responsible for driving incremental growth and brand impact through TV and streaming media, strategic sponsorships, and integrated brand activations. We’re looking for someone who is up to the challenge of making Upstart a memorable and household name, while also bringing some fun and analytical rigor to the mix. You will lead how Upstart shows up in high-reach environments by owning media buying strategy, partner relationships, and cross-functional collaboration with Analytics, Creative, and Product Marketing to ensure our brand investments are measurable, scalable, and effective. This is a senior, highly visible role with end-to-end ownership across planning, buying, partnerships, and performance evaluation. As a net-new role, you’ll be responsible for leading our initial brand investment strategy and scaling the budgets, team and strategy from zero to one. How you’ll make an impact Own Upstart’s branded media and sponsorship strategy from annual planning through in-market optimization. Lead TV and top-of-funnel media buying, including partner selection, negotiation, budgeting, flighting, and performance evaluation. Develop and manage strategic brand partnerships, sponsorships, and integrations that extend Upstart’s reach and reinforce brand credibility. Develop and execute branded activations in partnership with digital, creative, and external partners, ensuring alignment with brand and business goals. Partner closely with Analytics to define measurement frameworks for brand media, including incrementally testing, lift studies, MMM inputs, and attribution approaches. Collaborate with Creative and Product Marketing to translate brand strategy into effective media executions and partner activations. Scale significant annual brand media budgets, balancing reach, frequency, and efficiency while adapting to performance signals and market conditions. Establish best practices for brand media planning, buying, and measurement as Upstart continues to scale upper-funnel investment. Minimum Qualifications 10+ years of experience in brand media, partnerships, or integrated marketing, with meaningful ownership of TV and/or large brand partnerships. Proven experience managing large-scale media budgets and leading negotiations with media buyers, networks, or platforms. Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret performance data, design experiments, and make data-driven decisions in ambiguous environments. Track record of developing and executing sponsorships or strategic partnerships that deliver measurable brand or business impact. Experience operating in a highly cross-functional environment, partnering with creative, finance, analytics, and senior stakeholders. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where adaptability and problem-solving are key Preferred Qualifications Experience operating in highly regulated or longer consideration cycle vertical (e.g., financial services, fintech, lending, insurance, marketplaces). Experience scaling brand investment from early experimentation into a more mature, repeatable media program. Familiarity with marketing mix modeling, brand lift studies, or advanced media measurement methodologies. Experience managing agencies across media planning, buying, and partnerships. Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote, with a preference to be based in NYC area 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; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time. 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). United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range $195,800—$271,000 USD What you'll love At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial well-being, family, and personal growth. Here’s what you can expect: 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!). 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 candidate_accommodations@upstart.com https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy