Director of Product Management - Payments

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s largest work marketplace, connecting businesses with highly skilled professionals worldwide. From entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 enterprises, companies trust Upwork’s platform to access expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive meaningful business outcomes.

Upwork’s AI-powered platform has facilitated over $20 billion in economic opportunity for professionals worldwide. With professionals spanning 10,000+ skills, including AI and machine learning, software development, sales and marketing, customer support, finance and accounting, and more, Upwork empowers businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and build agile teams.

We’re looking for a strategic, customer-obsessed Director of Product, Payments to lead one of the most critical areas of our global business. In this high-impact role, you will define and drive product capabilities that deliver seamless, scalable, and trusted payment experiences for clients funding work on Upwork. This includes leading cross-functional initiatives across infrastructure, data, user experience, and automation to support evolving market needs without compromising customer trust.

You’ll partner closely with engineering, legal, finance, risk, and business leadership to build robust systems that meet the needs of both clients and talent. As a senior leader, you’ll shape the long-term product vision, prioritize strategic investments, and guide a team of high-performing product managers toward outcomes that support Upwork’s global scale and velocity. This is a unique opportunity to influence end-to-end payment experiences and build future-ready solutions that drive growth and trust.

Responsibilities

• Drive the vision, roadmap, and execution strategy for client payment experiences, ensuring reliability, ease of use, and global readiness

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of senior product managers; foster a culture of excellence, ownership, and continuous growth

• Collaborate with engineering, design, finance, legal, and operations teams to deliver resilient and user-friendly payment solutions

• Use customer insights, data analysis, and regulatory requirements to inform product decisions and continuously improve client experiences

• Lead initiatives that enhance trust, reduce friction, and automate compliance across payment touchpoints

• Set clear goals, define KPIs, and implement rigorous processes to ensure high-quality, high-impact product outcomes

• Represent Payments in company-wide planning, effectively communicating priorities, tradeoffs, and vision to leadership and partners

What it takes to catch our eye

• 10+ years of product management experience, with deep expertise in fintech, payments, or financial systems at scale

• 5+ years leading product teams, with a proven ability to develop senior product managers and drive collective team success

• Strong systems thinking and technical fluency, with the ability to guide architecture discussions and align technical and product strategies

• Demonstrated ability to balance customer needs, regulatory requirements, and business goals in high-stakes environments

• Clear and confident communicator, capable of aligning cross-functional stakeholders and navigating ambiguity with strategic clarity

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape the future of work for a global, remote-first workforce, creating economic opportunities for professionals worldwide. While we have a physical office in Palo Alto, we currently hire full-time employees in 21 U.S. states, making it easier than ever to join our mission from wherever you call home.

Our culture is built on trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence, all in service of our core mission: to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. We embrace authenticity and inclusion, encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work. Personal and professional growth is a priority here, supported through development programs, mentorship, and our Upwork Belonging Communities.

We’re proud to offer benefits that go beyond the basics, including comprehensive medical coverage for you and your family, unlimited PTO, a 401(k) plan with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Visit our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our values, working principles, and the overall employee experience.

Ready to help shape the future of work? Check out our Careers page and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X to learn more about life at Upwork.

Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Please note that a criminal background check may be required once a conditional job offer is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances.

The annual base salary range for this position  is displayed below. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.

Annual Base Compensation

$195,000—$251,500 USD