Senior Collections Specialist
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About this role
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 3,000 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:
At Upstart, we’re revolutionizing the collections industry by prioritizing empathy, results, and rewarding success. As a Senior Collections Agent, you’ll be at the forefront of helping borrowers overcome financial challenges while achieving outstanding performance outcomes. This role is perfect for individuals who excel in negotiation, compassionate communication, and driving measurable results in a fast-paced, performance-driven environment.
How you’ll make an impact
- Empower Borrowers: Leverage your expertise in collections to offer personalized solutions to help borrowers bring their accounts current through effective negotiation, empathy, and a deep understanding of payment plans and delinquency management.
- Deliver Results: Excel in collections performance by exceeding KPIs, such as dollars collected per productive hour and promise-to-pay (PTP) commitments kept within 7 days of Right Party Contact (RPC).
- Drive Innovation: Contribute to improving collections practices by participating in initiatives to enhance borrower support, process efficiency, and program outcomes.
What Success Looks Like
- As a Senior Collections Agent, your success will be measured by your ability to consistently deliver exceptional results through high-level execution of key metrics:
- Dollars Collected per Productive Hour: Maximize recovery efforts by driving efficiency in every interaction.
- Promise-to-Pay Commitments: Secure and uphold meaningful borrower commitments, ensuring Promise to pay agreements are fulfilled within 7 days of RPCs by negotiating effectively and efficiently.
Key Attributes for Success:
- A results-driven mindset, turning every borrower interaction into an opportunity to achieve impactful outcomes.
- Strong negotiation skills and the ability to build trust with borrowers quickly, using proven techniques that drive positive payment resolutions.
- Effective time management to balance high call volumes with personalized and strategic borrower support.
Minimum Qualifications
- At least 2 years in a collections role at a Financial Institution with proven success meeting performance goals.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively engage borrowers, secure agreements, and handle challenging conversations with professionalism and empathy.
- Familiarity with FDCPA, TCPA, and other relevant collections laws and best practices.
- Proven ability to thrive in a results-oriented environment with experience improving key performance metrics (KPIs).
Preferred Qualifications
- 3+ years of full-time employment experience successfully recovering high-risk or delinquent accounts, including managing hardship programs, settlements, and tailored borrower solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to negotiate and finalize settlements, ensuring optimal recovery rates while adhering to company policies and regulatory guidelines.
- Proven ability to secure high-value agreements while maintaining positive borrower relationships and consistently meeting or exceeding PTP and collection goals.
- Deep understanding of collections laws and compliance standards, including FDCPA, TCPA, and state-specific regulations.
- Skilled at analyzing performance metrics, optimizing productivity, and excelling in a results-oriented environment.
- Skilled in de-escalating challenging conversations, building trust, and presenting effective payment plans under pressure.
Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote.
Time zone requirements The team operates on the East/West coast time zones.
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.
#LI-REMOTE
#LI-Associate
This is a Non-Exempt position. Employees in this position are paid an hourly pay rate, on a bi-weekly basis, and are eligible to receive overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 in a work week, or over 8 in a work day if required by state law.
At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated annualized 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).
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
- Retirement benefits to help you plan for the future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada)
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only)
- Comprehensive health coverage designed to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for US and supplemental health coverage for Canada.
- Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans (US only)
- Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security
- Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, in line with local requirements
- Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments (duration varies by country)
- Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs
- 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 (US Only)
- 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, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
- Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City
For roles based in Canada, please note that we are not currently able to hire in Quebec.
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
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