VP, Payments

Upwork Inc. is a publicly traded work marketplace platform connecting businesses with global, AI-enabled freelance and contingent talent across more than 10,000 skills. The VP, Payments leads global payments strategy, financial infrastructure, and embedded finance innovation, overseeing cross-functional teams to optimize transaction performance, regulatory compliance, partnerships, and scalable payment systems across a high-volume, two-sided marketplace.

Upwork Inc. is seeking a VP, Payments to define and execute the global payments strategy for its high-velocity, two-sided marketplace. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this executive will lead the vision, operations, and innovation roadmap for payment systems that power millions of transactions annually. The role is central to platform trust, liquidity, regulatory compliance, and long-term financial optimization.

Responsibilities:
- Set the long-term vision and strategy for global payments infrastructure aligned with company objectives
- Lead cross-functional teams spanning Payments, Tax, Product, Engineering, and Compliance
- Scale global payment partnerships across acquiring, disbursement, and embedded finance solutions
- Drive AI-powered automation to enhance payment efficiency and reduce operational costs
- Oversee regulatory compliance and risk mitigation across multiple jurisdictions
- Deliver measurable improvements in transaction success rates, margin optimization, and loss management

Requirements:
- Executive leadership experience managing global payments or embedded finance platforms at scale
- Deep expertise in cross-border payment rails, wallet infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks
- Proven ability to lead strategic transformation within complex, matrixed organizations
- Experience leveraging AI to optimize financial workflows and operational processes
- Strong executive presence with the ability to influence board-level and technical stakeholders
- Track record of balancing strategic vision with operational execution excellence

Benefits:
- Comprehensive medical coverage
- Unlimited PTO and 12 weeks paid parental leave
- 401(k) with company match and Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Eligibility for annual bonus and long-term equity incentives

This full-time remote executive role offers the opportunity to shape the future of global payments within a leading digital work marketplace.