Senior Manager Closing Operations, Home Lending

Upstart; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Equity grants

Health, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off

Wellness resources

Job summary

Upstart is a digital-first lender seeking a Senior Manager, Closing Operations, Home Lending in Columbus, OH to guide the Closing team and supervise external vendors to ensure accurate, compliant loan closings.

You will partner with Product, Compliance, Legal, Risk and other leaders to optimize workflows, manage capacity, and scale processes as volumes grow, in a flexible, in-person/remote hybrid environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in mortgage/home lending operations with closing knowledge.
• 3+ years of direct people management experience.
• Experience managing third-party vendors in mortgage closing.
• Experience managing operations with capacity planning and performance metrics.
• Understanding of regulatory closing requirements and operational risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of the Closing team; set priorities and ensure quality and timeliness.
• Coach and develop team members; establish performance expectations and provide feedback.
• Own performance across closing functions and vendor accountability.
• Lead investigation and resolution of complex or high-risk closing issues using root‑cause analysis.
• Oversee day-to-day execution of third-party closing vendors; handle escalations.

Skills

Mortgage/closing ops

People management

Vendor management

Operational risk

Root-cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

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, 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 Home Lending Operations team supports customers throughout the home equity lending process, helping ensure loans move efficiently, accurately, and compliantly from application through closing. Within Operations, the Closing team owns the operational execution required to complete loan closings and works closely with internal partners and third‑party vendors that support closing and related functions.

As the Senior Manager Closing Operations, Home Lending, you will lead the operations of the Closing team and oversee day‑to‑day execution of external vendors Upstart uses to support closing activities. You will be accountable for team performance, closing quality and productivity, vendor execution, and the continued development of scalable processes and controls. You will also serve as a subject matter expert and cross‑functional partner, using operational data and lending expertise to identify risks, resolve complex issues, and improve how Upstart executes closings.

How you’ll make an impact

• Lead the day‑to‑day operations of the Closing team, setting priorities, managing capacity, and ensuring the team consistently delivers against closing quality, productivity, service‑level, and turn‑time expectations.
• Manage, coach, and develop team members by establishing clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, identifying skill gaps, and creating opportunities that support individual development and team performance.
• Own operational performance across internal and third‑party closing functions by establishing and monitoring metrics, identifying performance gaps and bottlenecks, and holding internal teams and vendors accountable for measurable outcomes.
• Lead the investigation and resolution of complex or high‑risk closing issues, using root‑cause analysis and operational data to implement durable process improvements, controls, and preventative solutions.
• Oversee day‑to‑day execution of third‑party closing vendors, including escalations, issue resolution, and ongoing accountability against operational expectations.
• Partner with Product, Compliance, Legal, Risk, and other Operations leaders to anticipate operational needs, evaluate tradeoffs, improve closing workflows, and plan for changes in volume, process, policy, or technology into the future.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in mortgage, home equity, or residential lending operations with a deep understanding of home lending closing operations, settlements, and county lien recording.
• 3+ years of direct people management experience.
• Professional experience leading mortgage or home lending operations at a bank, credit union, mortgage lender, fintech, or other regulated financial institution.
• Experience managing third‑party vendors or service providers supporting mortgage closing, title, settlement, notary, recording, funding, or related lending functions.
• Experience managing an operational team through defined productivity, quality, service‑level, turnaround‑time, or other performance metrics, including responsibility for capacity planning and performance management.
• Experience applying residential lending closing requirements, operational controls, and regulatory or compliance processes to resolve escalations and manage operational risk.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting HELOC or other home equity lending products and knowledge of the end‑to‑end closing lifecycle.
• Experience using operational data to identify trends, conduct root‑cause analysis, establish performance benchmarks, and implement measurable process improvements.
• Experience leading complex or cross‑functional operational initiatives involving Product, Compliance, Legal, Risk, Technology, or other business partners.
• Knowledge of vendor governance practices, including service‑level agreements, performance scorecards, escalation frameworks, and remediation plans.
• Ability to communicate complex operational issues, risks, and recommendations to senior leaders and internal or external stakeholders.
• Experience scaling or evolving operations through changes in volume, technology, process, policy or regulatory requirements

Position location

This role is available in the following locations: Columbus, Ohio

Time zone requirements

The team operates on the East coast time zone

In-Office requirements.

You will be required to work from the Columbus, Ohio office 2 days per week

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

$104,800—$145,000 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

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