Director of Collections Strategies
About the role
The Director of Collections Strategies will report to our Chief Product Officer. The role involves:
Responsibilities
- Build and lead our collections strategy across personal loans and student loan refinance, with an initial focus on standing up the personal loan program.
- Design customer-first recovery strategies that improve performance across the full delinquency lifecycle, including pre-default.
- Select and manage third-party vendors, driving clear performance expectations and accountability.
- Use data, testing, and cross-functional partnership to build a compliant, scalable collections operation.
- Shape the long-term model for collections, including where to leverage vendors versus build in-house capabilities.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in consumer lending collections, servicing, or recoveries, with significant ownership of strategy and execution.
- Deep knowledge of collections operations, compliance, and vendor management.
- Track record of improving recovery outcomes while maintaining a strong customer experience.
- Highly analytical and comfortable using data to guide decisions and optimize performance.
- Strong cross-functional communicator who works effectively across Risk, Product, Operations, Legal, Compliance, and Data.
Better Than That
- Experience in fintech, digital lending, or a customer-oriented bank.
- Familiarity with student loans, personal loans, or unsecured installment lending.
- Experience building or modernizing a collections function from the ground up.
Qualifications
- Deep understanding of consumer lending and collections processes.
- Proven ability to develop and implement successful collections strategies.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Skills
- Data analysis and interpretation.
- Vendor management and contract negotiation.
- Customer service and relationship management.
- Project management and organizational skills.
- Compliance and regulatory knowledge.
Benefits
Earnest offers a variety of perks and competitive benefits, including:
- Health, Dental, and Vision benefits plus savings plans.
- Mac computers and work-from-home stipend.
- Monthly internet and phone reimbursement.
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
- 401(k) plan with company match.
- Tuition reimbursement program.
- $1,000 travel perk on each Earnie-versary.
- Competitive days of annual PTO.
- Competitive parental leave.
Pay
Compensation is commensurate with experience.
Schedule
The role is based in the US.
What Makes an Earnie?
At Earnest, we believe in enabling our employees to live their best lives. Our cultural principles include:
- Every Second Counts: Speed is our competitive advantage.
- Choose To Do Hard Things: We win by tackling the hard things that others avoid, fueled by grit and resilience.
- Pursue Excellence: Great companies, teams, and individuals never settle and are proud of the work that they do.
- Lead Together: Our success comes from how we work together. Leadership is not about titles—it is about action. We take ownership, drive results, and move forward as a team.
- Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously: We take our work seriously, not ourselves. The stakes are high, but a sense of humor keeps us grounded, creative, and resilient.
Equal Opportunity Employer
At Earnest, we are committed to building an environment where our employees feel included, valued, and heard. We are dedicated to adding new perspectives to the team and encourage anyone to apply if your experience is close to what we are looking for. Earnest provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or genetics. Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for the position in a manner consistent with the Fair Chance Ordinance.