Lead Product Designer, Ads & Monetization Job at Upwork in Denver

Overview

We’re looking for a Lead Product Designer to help shape the future of monetization on Upwork. You’ll design the experiences that power how we grow and evolve our advertising ecosystem, from surfacing the right work and talent at the right moment, to helping businesses connect with the best-fit freelancers through promoted listings, sponsored placements, and emerging ad formats. This is a high-impact opportunity to influence the core revenue engine of a two-sided marketplace, working at the intersection of discovery, search, and performance-based design. You’ll lead end-to-end experiences that connect value to visibility and collaborate deeply with cross-functional partners to unlock new monetization pathways. Join us in reimagining how Upwork monetizes its platform—and make a lasting impact on how independent work thrives.

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. A criminal background check may be required after a conditional job offer. 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.

Annual base compensation and benefits are described below. 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

$151,500 - $215,500 USD

We also offer comprehensive benefits, including 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. Learn more about life at Upwork and our values on our Career pages.

Ready to help shape the future of work? Check out our Careers page to learn more about opportunities 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, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Note: a criminal background check may be required after a conditional job offer.

To learn more about how Upwork processes and protects your personal information as part of the application process, please review our Global Job Applicant Privacy Notice.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design strategy and execution across the Ads & Monetization space, delivering high-quality product experiences that balance business goals with user value.
• Partner with product managers, engineers, and data scientists to identify opportunities to enhance visibility, promote relevance, and drive conversions through ads and sponsored placements.
• Translate complex monetization goals into intuitive, ethical, and user-centered design flows that integrate into core marketplace interactions.
• Prototype and test new ad formats, surfacing strategies, and placement mechanics with a bias toward experimentation and iteration.
• Leverage data and user insights to continuously improve performance-focused features and workflows, optimizing for client and talent satisfaction.
• Collaborate across functions to ensure design consistency, clarity, and impact—building shared frameworks and scalable patterns.
• Contribute to Upwork’s design culture by mentoring peers, sharing best practices, and advocating for quality and customer impact.

What it takes to catch our eye

• Experience designing for monetization, advertising platforms, or performance marketing—ideally within a marketplace or search-heavy environment.
• Strong product thinking with a demonstrated ability to align design decisions with business metrics and growth goals.
• A portfolio that showcases user-first monetization design across web and/or mobile, with clarity on your role, thought process, and results.
• Proficiency in tools like Figma and comfort with rapid prototyping, experimentation frameworks, and working with data-rich interfaces.
• Familiarity with AI-powered systems, relevance models, or surfacing logic is a plus.

Seniority and Employment

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Design
• Industries: Staffing and Recruiting, Internet Marketplace Platforms

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