📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Principal Product Manager, Growth
🔹 Company: Upstart
🔹 Location: United States (Remote OK)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Financial Services, Product Management
🔹 Date Posted: April 21, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Remote OK
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Driving growth in loan originations through strategic product management
- Creating a seamless credit experience for customers across multiple offerings
- Collaborating cross-functionally to align goals and streamline processes
- Leveraging data-driven insights to optimize product decisions and metrics
- Managing and influencing teams through persuasion, negotiation, and consensus building
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to drive growth and improve customer experience.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop and execute strategies to drive growth in loan originations, focusing on enhancing the product experience across multiple credit offerings to build a cohesive multi-product marketplace.
✅ Deeply understand the customer through ongoing collaboration with consumer insights, product marketing, and product teams, ensuring the borrower experience is intuitive, seamless, and meets evolving customer needs.
✅ Collaborate closely across all products at the company, and work with product managers, engineering, analytics, design, and marketing to align goals and streamline processes, ensuring cross-functional coordination and successful delivery of initiatives.
✅ Leverage data-driven insights to make informed product decisions, identifying opportunities for optimization and testing hypotheses to improve key metrics. Establish and track success metrics to assess the impact of product initiatives, ensuring continuous optimization and improved outcomes.
✅ Make smart trade-offs to inform the ongoing product roadmap, prioritizing the features with the highest ROI and experimenting when necessary
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic planning, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to drive growth and improve customer experience.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Marketing, or a related discipline). Advanced degree preferred but not required.
Experience: 8+ years of experience in a product management role focused on consumer growth with a demonstrated track record of leading a team to meet specific KPIs (e.g., lifetime value, cross-sell, upsell).
Required Skills:
- Proven ability to build relationships and effectively collaborate with all levels of the organization, from C-level to individual contributors
- Strong prototyping and experimentation skills, including hypothesis generation, A/B testing, and results analysis
- Ability to manage and influence through persuasion, negotiation, and consensus building
Preferred Skills:
- Experience building consumer products for technology companies, preferably in highly regulated industries (financial services, healthcare, etc.)
- Proven track record of building and scaling multi-product ecosystems or marketplaces in a B2C environment
- Strong customer-centric mindset with the ability to translate customer insights into actionable product features and enhancements
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong background in product management, with a focus on consumer growth and cross-functional collaboration. A proven track record of driving growth through data-driven decision making is essential.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the range of $187,900 to $260,000 USD per year. Individual pay will depend on geographic location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
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
Working Hours: Full-time position with a typical workweek of 40 hours. Flexible work arrangements may be available.
ASSUMPTION: Upstart offers a competitive compensation package with a comprehensive range of benefits to attract and retain top talent.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Upstart operates in the Financial Services industry, specifically in the AI lending marketplace, connecting consumers to banks and credit unions for various credit products.
Company Size: Upstart is a mid-sized company with approximately 1,001-5,000 employees, providing a structured yet agile work environment.
Founded: Upstart was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with additional offices in Columbus, Ohio, and Austin, Texas.
Company Description:
- Upstart is the leading AI lending marketplace, connecting millions of consumers to more than 100 banks and credit unions
- The company uses AI models and cloud applications to deliver superior credit products, approving more borrowers at lower rates across various demographics
- Upstart offers personal loans, automotive retail and refinance loans, home equity lines of credit, and small-dollar “relief” loans
- The company is committed to providing an exceptional digital-first experience for customers and driving growth through data-driven decision making
Company Specialties:
- AI Lending Marketplace
- Personal Loans
- Auto Lending
- Home Equity Loans
- Small-Dollar Loans
- Data Science
- Machine Learning
- FinTech
- Consumer Credit
Company Website: http://www.upstart.com/about
ASSUMPTION: Upstart is a well-established company in the AI lending marketplace, with a strong focus on data-driven decision making and customer experience.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the senior management level, reporting directly to the Head of Product or a similar executive.
Reporting Structure: The Principal Product Manager, Growth will oversee a team of product managers and contribute to the overall product strategy and roadmap.
Work Arrangement: This role is available in a remote capacity, with regular onsites to facilitate collaboration and team building. The majority of work can be accomplished remotely, with in-person sessions occurring once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential career progression to a Vice President or Director of Product role
- Expanding the scope of responsibilities to include additional product lines or regions
- Gaining experience in leading and mentoring a team of product managers
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential, with opportunities to expand the scope of responsibilities and advance to more senior leadership positions.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Upstart has offices in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas, with a digital-first approach that allows for remote work.
Office Location(s): 2950 S Delaware Street, Ste. 410, San Mateo, CA 94403, US; 711 N. High Street, 4th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215, US; 811 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, Texas 78704, US
Geographic Context:
- The United States offers a large and diverse consumer base for Upstart’s credit products
- Upstart’s offices are located in major metropolitan areas with established tech and financial services industries
- The company’s remote-friendly culture allows employees to live and work anywhere in the United States
Work Schedule: Full-time position with a typical workweek of 40 hours. Flexible work arrangements may be available.
ASSUMPTION: Upstart’s digital-first approach and remote-friendly culture provide employees with the flexibility to work from anywhere in the United States, with regular onsites to facilitate collaboration and team building.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Phone or video screen with a member of the People & Talent team
- Behavioral and technical assessment with a member of the Product team
- Final interview with the hiring manager and other key stakeholders
Key Assessment Areas:
- Problem-solving skills and ability to analyze data-driven insights
- Collaboration and communication skills, both written and verbal
- Understanding of consumer behavior and customer-centric mindset
- Ability to manage and influence through persuasion, negotiation, and consensus building
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in product management, consumer growth, and data-driven decision making
- Prepare for behavioral and technical assessments by practicing common interview questions and brushing up on your product management skills
- Research Upstart’s products, company culture, and industry trends to demonstrate your enthusiasm and understanding of the role
ATS Keywords: Product Management, Consumer Growth, Data-Driven Decision Making, Cross-Functional Collaboration, AI Lending, Marketplace Lending, Consumer Credit, Customer Experience, Product Roadmap, A/B Testing, Hypothesis Generation
ASSUMPTION: Upstart’s interview process is designed to assess candidates’ problem-solving skills, collaboration and communication skills, and understanding of consumer behavior and data-driven insights. Tailoring your application materials to highlight these skills and demonstrating your enthusiasm for the role and company will increase your chances of success.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., SQL, Tableau, Looker)
- Product management software (e.g., Asana, JIRA, Trello)
- Collaboration and communication tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, JIRA, Trello)
- Customer relationship management (CRM) software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM)
ASSUMPTION: Upstart uses a variety of tools and technologies to facilitate collaboration, communication, and data-driven decision making. Proficiency in these tools is not required but may be beneficial for candidates.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Customer-centric: Upstart prioritizes the customer experience in all aspects of its business
- Data-driven: Upstart uses data to inform decision making and drive growth
- Collaborative: Upstart fosters a culture of collaboration and cross-functional teamwork
- Inclusive: Upstart is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring practices and product offerings
Work Style:
- Agile and adaptable: Upstart operates in a dynamic and evolving industry, requiring employees to be flexible and adaptable
- Data-driven: Upstart uses data to inform decision making and drive growth
- Collaborative: Upstart fosters a culture of collaboration and cross-functional teamwork
- Customer-centric: Upstart prioritizes the customer experience in all aspects of its business
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you ensure that your product decisions align with Upstart’s customer-centric values?
- Can you describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment or industry? How did you approach this challenge?
- How do you balance data-driven insights with customer feedback to inform your product roadmap?
ASSUMPTION: Upstart values candidates who are customer-centric, data-driven, collaborative, and adaptable. Demonstrating these qualities in your application materials and interviews will increase your chances of success.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing and influencing stakeholders across multiple products and teams
- Balancing short-term growth initiatives with long-term product strategy
- Navigating a dynamic and evolving industry with frequent changes in consumer behavior and market trends
- Ensuring a seamless customer experience across multiple credit offerings and touchpoints
ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges that require strong collaboration, communication, and adaptability skills. Candidates should be prepared to navigate these challenges and contribute to Upstart’s continued growth and success.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Principal Product Manager, Growth at Upstart vs. Senior Product Manager, Growth at a startup: The Principal Product Manager role at Upstart offers more strategic responsibilities and a larger scope of influence, while the Senior Product Manager role at a startup may provide more hands-on product development and a faster-paced work environment.
- Principal Product Manager, Growth at Upstart vs. Product Manager, Growth at a mid-sized company: The Principal Product Manager role at Upstart offers more senior-level responsibilities and a broader scope of influence, while the Product Manager role at a mid-sized company may provide more focused product development and a more structured work environment.
- Principal Product Manager, Growth at Upstart vs. Director of Product, Growth at an enterprise: The Principal Product Manager role at Upstart offers more tactical product development and execution, while the Director of Product role at an enterprise may provide more strategic product planning and leadership responsibilities.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider the unique aspects of each role and company when evaluating their fit for the Principal Product Manager, Growth position at Upstart.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a cross-selling strategy to increase loan originations for Upstart’s auto refinance product
- Optimizing the customer onboarding experience to improve customer satisfaction and retention for Upstart’s personal loan product
- Expanding Upstart’s product offerings to include a new credit line or loan product, requiring market research, customer segmentation, and competitive analysis
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the types of initiatives a Principal Product Manager, Growth at Upstart might undertake to drive growth and improve customer experience. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their relevant experience and approach to these types of projects in their interviews.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does Upstart measure the success of its product initiatives, and how can I contribute to improving these metrics?
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics of the product-led growth team, and how does this team collaborate with other Upstart teams?
- How does Upstart approach balancing short-term growth initiatives with long-term product strategy, and how can I contribute to this balance?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the product-led growth team in the next 12-24 months, and how can I help address these challenges?
- How does Upstart support the professional development and growth of its product managers?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and company, and provides an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Upstart’s product-led growth team and its challenges and opportunities.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in product management, consumer growth, and data-driven decision making
- Prepare for behavioral and technical assessments by practicing common interview questions and brushing up on your product management skills
- Research Upstart’s products, company culture, and industry trends to demonstrate your enthusiasm and understanding of the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
