Performance Marketing Manager

Who you are

• 5+ years of experience in performance marketing or digital media buying, with a strong focus on SEM and additional experience across paid social and/or display
• Proven track record of owning large-scale acquisition programs, managing significant monthly budgets, and driving measurable growth against CPA, ROI, and volume targets
• Deep hands-on expertise in paid search, including keyword strategy, bid management, ad copy testing, and landing page optimization
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret performance data, design experiments, and make data-driven decisions in ambiguous environments
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where adaptability and problem-solving are key
• Experience operating in highly regulated or longer consideration cycle vertical (e.g., financial services, fintech, lending, insurance, marketplaces)
• Experience launching and scaling new channels or products from zero to one, with comfort operating in ambiguity and building an acquisition funnel from scratch
• Experience working closely with product and engineering teams to improve landing pages, funnels, and on-site conversion through testing and iteration

What the job involves

• Upstart’s Digital Marketing team drives scalable, data-driven customer acquisition across our lending products via performance marketing channels. We design, execute, and optimize digital media strategies that connect consumers to credit at the moments that matter most
• Through rigorous experimentation, channel optimization, and disciplined CAC management, the team plays a critical role in fueling Upstart’s growth while maintaining strong unit economics for the business
• As the Performance Marketing Manager, Emerging Products and channels at Upstart, you will own and scale paid digital acquisition across key channels including SEM, paid social, display, and emerging performance channels
• This zero-to-one role with the opportunity to build Upstart’s Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) performance marketing engine from the ground up
• You will be responsible for day-to-day media buying and optimization in platform, including campaign setup, keyword and audience management, bidding, budgeting, creative testing, and landing page optimization
• You will partner closely with Product Marketing, Analytics, Creative, and the HELOC General Manager to launch new campaigns, unlock new audiences, and rapidly test and iterate across messaging, targeting, and channel mix
• This role offers exceptional ownership and visibility, with the chance to make a material impact on one of Upstart’s newest and most strategic product lines while laying the foundation for long-term growth
• Own and scale HELOC media buying across SEM, paid social, display, and emerging performance channels, managing strategy, execution, and optimization end to end
• Scale Upstart’s HELOC performance marketing engine, establishing channel strategy, testing frameworks, and best practices in a zero-to-one environment
• Drive efficient, incremental customer acquisition by continuously optimizing bids, budgets, audiences, and creative to hit volume, CPA, and ROI targets
• Design and run rigorous experimentation programs across keywords, audiences, creatives, and formats to unlock scalable growth opportunities and new channels
• Manage and forecast significant media budgets, balancing growth and efficiency while adapting quickly to performance trends and market dynamics

Benefits

• Comprehensive health plans
• 401k Plan
• Annual wellness reimbursement
• Disability insurance
• Generous vacation policy
• Flexible time off
• Parental leave
• Family forming benefits through Carrot
• Technology equipment budget
• Personal development budget
• Various clubs and extracurricular activities
• Catered lunches
• Fully stocked micro-kitchen