Director, Partnerships

Upgrade is a fintech company that provides affordable and responsible credit, mobile banking, and payment products to everyday consumers. We were the fastest growing company in the Americas last year according to the Financial Times and Upgrade Card was the fastest growing credit card in America two years in a row. We have delivered over $33 billion in affordable and responsible credit to our 5.5M customers. The company is backed by some of the most prominent technology investors and was recently valued at $6.3B.

We have built an energizing, collaborative and inclusive culture where team members help each other, learn and innovate to move the company and its customers in the right direction, and own the outcome of their efforts.

Upgrade has been named a “Best Place to Work in the Bay Area” three years in a row, “Top Companies to work for in Arizona” and one of the "Best Engineering Department" awarded annually by Comparably. We've also received recognition for being a best company for Diversity, Women, Culture, and Veterans.

We are looking for new team members who get excited about designing and delivering new and better products to join a team of 1850 talented and dedicated professionals. Come work with us if you like to tackle big problems and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Partnerships for our Flex Pay BNPL product within the retail and non-travel space. This person will play a pivotal role in driving revenue growth, launching channel partnerships, and expanding our footprint in BNPL. This IC leader will be instrumental in developing and executing a comprehensive partnerships strategy, building strong relationships with payments service providers (PSPs), e-commerce platforms, and digital wallets. We are looking for a self-starter who can thrive in a fast-paced growth environment to take Flex Pay to the next level.

What You’ll Do:

• The Partnerships Director will prospect, nurture, and sign channel partnerships to drive net new Flex Pay merchant acquisition. 
• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with PSPs, e-commerce platforms, and digital wallets to expand adoption of BNPL solutions.
• Create consultative sales presentations, RFP proposals, and own the end-to-end contract negotiation process for new opportunities. 
• Develop and implement a data-driven partnerships strategy aligned with company goals to drive revenue growth and market penetration.
• Work closely with Product, Design, Data, Engineering, Marketing, Legal, and other teams to ensure the Flex Pay team is continuously improving the product offering.
• Own channel partnerships targets, pipeline management, and forecasting, ensuring consistent achievement of KPIs and revenue goals.
• Leverage customer feedback, market insights, and industry trends to refine partnership approaches and inform product development and adoption.

What We Look For:

• 8-10 years of progressive channel partnerships and sales leadership experience within BNPL or payments space.
• Deep understanding of the BNPL landscape, payment technologies, retail, e-commerce ecosystems, and PSPs.
• Track record of achieving ambitious revenue targets in a fast-paced, competitive market.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and deal closing skills.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related field; MBA preferred.

What We Offer You: 

• Competitive salary and stock option plan
• 100% paid coverage of medical, dental and vision insurance 
• Flexible PTO
• Opportunities for professional growth and development  
• Paid parental leave
• Health & wellness initiatives
  

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We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.