HR Operations Onboarding Specialist (Contingent Worker)

The Team

You will be joining an organization with engaged founders and leaders, strong values (practiced daily!) and operational rigor and discipline. Come help us build the culture and the processes that will enable continued success for our employees and borrowers.

As the HR Operations Onboarding Specialist (Contingent Worker) at Upstart, you will coordinate onboarding activities, manage data workflows across internal People, Recruitment, and IT systems, and ensure compliance with background and I-9 requirements. You’ll serve as a go-to partner for internal teams and new hires, driving a seamless and delightful day 1 experience for new employees.

Position Location 

This role is available in the following locations: Remote

Time Zone Requirements 

This team operates on the East/West Coast time zones.

Travel Requirements 

As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Operate with trust & integrity: You treat sensitive information with care, knowing that trust is the foundation of great working relationships. Whether you're managing background checks, processing new hire transactions in Workday, or ensuring I-9s are completed compliantly, you handle data with professionalism, discretion, and a deep sense of responsibility.
• Communicate to connect: You know how to tailor your message to meet your audience—whether it’s a quick Slack to a teammate or a clear, timely email to a new hire or hiring manager. You own all onboarding communications, making sure candidates, managers, the People team, and cross-functional partners are aligned and informed every step of the way.
  • Own the outcome: You take initiative, move fast, and follow through. You coordinate orientation schedules, laptop shipments, and address confirmations without missing a beat. If issues arise—whether it’s a data discrepancy across systems or a last-minute change to Day 1 logistics—you stay steady, find a solution, and keep things moving forward.
  • Champion the employee experience: You show up with empathy, responsiveness, and a service mindset. You’re the go-to person for onboarding questions from candidates, managers, and recruiters—making each interaction an opportunity to build trust and confidence in our process. You know that a smooth start sets the tone for the entire employee journey.

What we’re looking for: 

Minimum requirements:

• 1+ years of HR experience, preferably in an HR operations, onboarding, or related role 
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to audiences at all levels of the organization 
• Self starter who can manage and prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• A responsive, customer-service posture with excellent organization skills
• The ideal candidate will pay strong attention to detail as a habit and they will hold the quality of their work as paramount in all that they do

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience using Workday and applicant tracking systems (e.g., Greenhouse)
• Working knowledge of I-9 and background check processes and tools (e.g. Equifax, Checkr)
• Experience in the tech industry