Art Director, Performance

Upstart; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 138,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Equity grants

401(k)

Health coverage

ESPP

Onsite perks

Wellness allowance

Job summary

Upstart, a digital-first AI lending marketplace, is seeking an Art Director, Performance to craft high‑impact creative for Paid Social channels and partner with Marketing and Creative teams. You’ll shape evergreen and influencer work across Meta, TikTok, Google, and new channels, blending performance insights with brand expertise.

You’ll apply AI‑assisted design approaches, guide cross‑functional partners, and help drive Upstart’s growth through innovative, data‑driven campaigns.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in art direction, design, or a related creative discipline.
• Portfolio demonstrating excellence in leading and executing best‑in‑class, high‑impact performance creative across paid social channels.
• Expert‑level proficiency in design software (Adobe Creative Suite and Figma) and AI‑assisted design tools and workflows.
• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Visual Communications, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative vision and execution across Paid Social channels, ensuring design excellence, platform relevance, and brand consistency across all creative assets.
• Stay informed on performance and testing results, applying learnings to generate creative hypotheses, inform future assets, and proactively develop new creative tests.
• Partner cross‑functionally and with external agencies to concept, design, and deliver best‑in‑class evergreen and influencer creative that drives measurable results.
• Strengthen creative systems and workflows to improve speed, scalability, consistency, and output as channels evolve.
• Apply generative AI throughout the creative process to accelerate ideation and asset development while maintaining strong creative judgment and oversight.

Skills

Art direction

Portfolio leadership

Channel knowledge

Performance testing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Design, Visual Communications, or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Job description

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:

Upstart’s Brand & Creative team shapes how the brand comes to life across every touchpoint — defining our voice, personality, and emotional connection with borrowers and partners. We sit within Growth, designing and creating for impact across all channels, from the digital surfaces where consumers first discover us to the campaigns and brand systems that make Upstart trusted and remembered.

As the Art Director, Performance at Upstart, you’ll create high-impact creative across our Paid Social channels, including Meta, TikTok, Google, and emerging channels. Partnering closely with Marketing and Creative, you’ll develop best‑in‑class work across evergreen and influencer programs with both in‑house teams and external agency partners. You’ll combine performance insights, channel best practices, and brand expertise to create innovative work that drives the future growth of Upstart.

How you’ll make an impact

• Lead the creative vision and execution across Paid Social channels, ensuring design excellence, platform relevance, and brand consistency across all creative assets.
• Stay informed on performance and testing results, applying learnings to generate creative hypotheses, inform future assets, and proactively develop new creative tests.
• Partner cross‑functionally and with external agencies to concept, design, and deliver best‑in‑class evergreen and influencer creative that drives measurable results.
• Strengthen creative systems and workflows to improve speed, scalability, consistency, and output as channels evolve.
• Apply generative AI throughout the creative process to accelerate ideation and asset development while maintaining strong creative judgment and oversight.

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in art direction, design, or a related creative discipline.
• Portfolio demonstrating excellence in leading and executing best‑in‑class, high‑impact performance creative across paid social channels.
• Strong knowledge of channel‑specific creative best practices, with experience using performance data and structured testing to inform creative decisions, iterations, and future optimization.
• Expert‑level proficiency in design software (Adobe Creative Suite and Figma), with experience using AI‑assisted design tools and workflows.
• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Visual Communications, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to organize and lead multiple projects and priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Skilled in collaborating with cross‑functional partners and managing external agency or vendor relationships.
• Ability to clearly articulate creative decisions and recommendations to creative and non‑creative stakeholders.
• Ability to translate business and performance goals into compelling creative strategies and concepts.
• Knowledge of copy development and how messaging supports creative concepts and executions.

Position location 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.

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

$138,000—$182,000 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
• 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 (opening Summer 2026!)

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 [e-mail]

https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy