Market Insights Advisor- Unsecured Consumer Lending

TransUnion; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental/Vision coverage

HSA/FSA options

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Commuter benefits

Employee discounts

Volunteer time

Job summary

TransUnion seeks a strategic lead to own the Consumer Lending thought leadership program, guiding market questions into structured analyses using proprietary data. You will publish papers and briefings to shape industry thinking and help TransUnion’s commercial strategy.

You will manage offshore and U.S. analysts, interpret regulatory changes, and influence senior leaders with evidence-based positions, in a hybrid role.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in financial services strategy, management consulting, market intelligence, or analytics leadership with depth in consumer lending/fintech.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, economics, finance) strongly preferred.
• Established portfolio of published thought leadership; white papers or executive communications.
• Deep knowledge of the U.S. consumer credit ecosystem and regulatory environment.
• Strong written, verbal, and visual communication for C-suite audiences.

Responsibilities

• Own the research agenda for Consumer Lending thought leadership, translating market questions into analytical frameworks using TransUnion data.
• Author externally published papers, executive briefings, and digital content to advance market thinking and TransUnion’s standing.
• Direct the work of offshore analysts and coordinate with U.S.-based partners; set quality expectations and priorities.
• Interpret regulatory, competitive, and macro developments and advise senior leadership on implications for commercial strategy.
• Persuade Marketing, Legal, and senior leaders to gain acceptance of editorial and analytical stances with evidence.

Skills

Executive comms

Stakeholder mgmt

Thought leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree required

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Job description

The Consumer Lending team is responsible for growing TransUnion’s consumer lending business, with a primary focus on non-depository lenders, including fintechs and alternative lenders. The team serves as a central hub across Sales, Solutions, and Marketing, bringing market and customer insights into commercial priorities, solution development, and go-to-market execution. The team is led by the Consumer Lending business leader. This role will own the thought leadership agenda for Consumer Lending by identifying the market questions that matter most to customers and sellers and determining how TransUnion data can help answer them. This role will report into the SVP of Strategic Planning This is a hybrid position and involves regular performance of job responsibilities virtually as well as in-person at an assigned TU office location for a minimum of two days a week.

Role Overview and Core Responsibilities
Own the research agenda for Consumer Lending thought leadership as TransUnion’s recognized authority on the segment — identifying the high-priority industry questions and converting them into structured analytical frameworks that leverage TransUnion’s proprietary data assets and external market signals.
Serve as a named, externally recognized TransUnion voice on fintech, BNPL, and non-depository lending dynamics; author and champion externally published white papers, executive briefings, conference presentations, and digital content that advance the market’s thinking and TransUnion’s standing within it.
Apply demonstrated creativity and ingenuity to abstract, non-routine problems — designing novel decompositions, indices, and comparative frameworks where established methodologies do not exist or are insufficient.
Direct the analytical work of two offshore analysts (India) and coordinate with U.S.-based analytical partners — scoping the work, setting quality expectations, and prioritizing — and act as a technical resource and informal mentor to less-experienced colleagues across the team. (These are matrixed working relationships, not direct reports.)
Interpret and anticipate regulatory, competitive, and macroeconomic developments (CFPB actions, state-level rate caps, bureau-bypass dynamics, charter conversions, alternative-data underwriting), surfacing internal and external business challenges before they crystallize and advising senior leadership on the implications for TransUnion’s commercial strategy.
Use persuasion to gain acceptance of new or contrarian positions — negotiating editorial and analytical stances with Marketing, Communications, Legal, and senior business leaders, and defending commercially sensitive points of view on the strength of the evidence.

Required Knowledge and Experiences

• 10+ years experience in financial services strategy, management consulting, market intelligence, corporate development, or analytics leadership, with demonstrable depth in consumer lending, fintech, or adjacent credit ecosystems. (Master’s degree or MBA may substitute for up to two years of experience.)
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MA/MS in Economics, Finance, Public Policy, or a quantitative discipline) strongly preferred
• An established, externally recognized body of published thought leadership — white papers, industry research, executive-grade points of view, or equivalent — with a portfolio available on request.
• Deep working knowledge of the U.S. consumer credit ecosystem: bureau dynamics, alternative data, fintech and BNPL business models, non-depository lending economics, and the regulatory environment shaping each.
• Advanced executive communication — written, verbal, and visual — with the ability to render complex, technically dense material credible and accessible for C-suite and external audiences.

Required Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word to review quantitative information and create executive-ready presentations, reports, and sales enablement materials.
• Ability to work with structured data tables and analytical outputs and translate findings into clear business narratives; programming languages and hands‑on query development are not required.

We’re also looking for the preferred skills below.

• Experience publishing or authoring insight-based content, internally or externally, such as market reports, newsletters, executive communications, presentations, or thought leadership.
• Experience directing or collaborating with offshore or global analytical teams, particularly colleagues with varying familiarity with U.S. markets and work styles.

Benefits that support every part of your life:

At TransUnion, we design benefits to help you feel well, do well, and plan well—from day one.

For Your Health:

• Enjoy day‑one eligibility for medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus supplemental plan options.
• Spousal, domestic partner, and other eligible dependent coverage is available on select plans.
• Choose tax‑advantaged HSA and FSA accounts to make everyday care more affordable.

For Your Protection:

• We’ve got your back with company‑paid basic life and AD&D, optional voluntary life and AD&D for you and your family, and short‑ and long‑term disability.
• You can also opt into a legal plan, pet insurance, and travel accident coverage.

For Your Family:

• From adoption assistance and fertility planning coverage to caregiver support, we’re here for every chapter.
• Access Dependent Care FSA for possibility of an employer match, a complimentary Care@Work membership, and up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave with eligibility for a thoughtful, gradual return.

For Your Future:

• Build toward what’s next with our 401(k) with employer match and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Tap financial wellness resources, career coaching, and optional long‑term care insurance to plan confidently.

For You:

• Grow and recharge with tuition reimbursement, flexible time off for exempt employees or paid time off for nonexempt employees, up to 12 paid holidays per year, commuter benefits, employee discounts, charitable gift matching, and paid volunteer time off, plus corporate volunteer events that make it easy to give back.

For Your Wellness:

• Access 24/7 support including professional therapy, coaching, and emotional well‑being programs alongside guided meditation and resources that support physical, mental, social, and financial wellness.

We are committed to being a place where diversity is not only present, it is embraced.

As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.

Additionally, in accordance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, TransUnion takes affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans in all levels of employment and develops annual affirmative action plans. Components of TransUnion’s affirmative action program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are available for review to any associate or applicant for employment upon request by contacting [e-mail].

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act.

TransUnion complies with all applicable immigration laws and regulations. The Company does not presently provide employer support or sponsorship for an immigration‑related employment benefit for this position. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis without the need for employer support or sponsorship now or in the future.

Pay Scale Information:

The U.S. base salary range for this position is $112,500.00 - $187,500 annually. *The salary range for this position reflects a reasonable estimate of the range of compensation for this job. At TransUnion, actual compensation is based on careful consideration of additional factors such as (but not limited to) an individual’s education, training, work experience, job‑related skill set, location, and industry knowledge, as well as the scope and responsibilities of the position and market considerations. Regular, fulltime non‑sales positions may be eligible to participate in TransUnion’s annual bonus plan. Certain positions may be also eligible for long‑term incentives and other payments based on applicable company guidance and plan documents.

TransUnion Overview:

At TransUnion, we encourage and are committed to creating a real, positive impact and shared sense of purpose within our Workforce for Good, which empowers our people to grow, innovate and contribute to a better future for our communities and customers. We strive to build an environment where our associates are in the driver’s seat of their professional development— while having access to help along the way. We recognize that success comes when our associates thrive both professionally and personally; that’s why we prioritize work/life flexibility and offer resources for our teams across the globe to collaborate and drive excellence. Be a part of our Workforce for Good – you’ll work with great people, pioneering products and cutting‑edge technology.

TransUnion's Internal Job Title: Advisor, Strategic Planning Company: TransUnion LLC