Manager, People Programs

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, 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 Communications, Culture & Development team helps Upstarters understand where the company is going, feel connected to its purpose, and build the capabilities they need to do their best work. We partner across the People Team and the business to create clear, effective employee experiences at important moments throughout the year. As the People Programs Manager at Upstart, you will lead end-to-end program management for some of our most visible employee programs, including our mid-year and year-end performance review cycles, Pulse, and AI Acceleration work. You’ll bring structure and momentum to complex, cross-functional initiatives, translate program direction into practical plans, and ensure decisions turn into coordinated, high-quality execution. This is a hands-on role for a strong operator who can see around corners, create clarity in ambiguity, and move comfortably between the larger purpose of a program and the details required to deliver it well. How you’ll make an impact - Lead the planning and delivery of Upstart’s mid-year and year-end performance review cycles , coordinating timelines, systems readiness, communications, stakeholder inputs, launch activities, and cross-functional dependencies to create a clear and effective experience for Upstarters and managers. - Manage the Pulse program in partnership with People Analytics, HRBPs, and senior leaders, coordinating survey readiness, launch, response tracking, results distribution, action-planning logistics, and follow-through. - Serve as the central program manager for AI Acceleration , translating executive direction into coordinated workstreams, milestones, decision points, and measurable progress. - Partner across Internal Communications, Learning and Development, Technology, and the broader People Team to support employee-facing AI adoption, communications, enablement, experimentation, and change management. - Create integrated program plans and operating rhythms that establish clear ownership, surface dependencies and risks, support timely decisions, and keep cross-functional partners moving toward shared outcomes. - Continuously improve the systems, playbooks, and processes behind each program , using employee feedback, program data, and lessons learned to make future cycles more coordinated, measurable, and effective.