Category Associate (German-speaking)

About Whatnot

Whatnot is a leading live shopping marketplace across North America and Europe, where people buy, sell, and discover products they love. The platform spans categories such as trading cards, fashion, electronics, and live plants, and supports sellers in building real businesses across a wide range of communities. The company is helping define live commerce in the West at a scale without an established blueprint, and its team is shaping how this new industry grows.

Whatnot operates as a remote-first, co-located team with hubs in the US, UK, Ireland, Poland, Germany, and Australia. The organization works quickly, stays close to users, and prioritizes the work with the greatest impact. It is also among the fastest-growing marketplaces and was recognized by Forbes as the #1 Best Startup Employer in America.

Role Summary

As a Category Associate, you will help grow Whatnot’s presence in both emerging and established categories by finding and bringing new sellers into the DACH market. This role focuses on seller acquisition, onboarding, partnerships, category expertise, and data-driven growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop deep knowledge of your assigned category, including seller and buyer behavior, community touchpoints, influencers, and product-specific details.
• Represent Whatnot as the main point of contact for the seller and buyer communities connected to your category.
• Identify potential sellers and engage them through social platforms, outbound outreach, and face-to-face events to encourage them to grow on Whatnot.
• Guide groups of sellers through onboarding and show them how to use the app effectively.
• Build durable relationships with sellers and key strategic partners, supporting their growth and understanding their needs.
• Work with partners to shape growth strategies and share feedback that can inform product improvements.
• Lead marketing and growth efforts such as influencer partnerships and campaigns to increase awareness and attract more buyers.
• Use foundational SQL and data analysis to pull insights from projects and improve operational efficiency.
• Monitor category performance using key metrics and continuously refine approaches based on results.

Work Location and Flexibility

This position offers flexibility to work from home or from one of the company’s global office hubs. In-person collaboration is valued for planning, problem-solving, and building strong team connections. Team members in this role must live within commuting distance of the London, UK or Berlin, Germany hubs.

Candidate Profile

People who succeed at Whatnot are comfortable navigating ambiguity, moving quickly, and figuring things out as they go. The company values action, curiosity, ownership, and a focus on outcomes over recognition. Successful candidates stay close to both the product and the people using it.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of experience in a fast-moving, client-facing role in a high-output environment, such as strategy consulting, private equity, or partnerships at a fast-growing tech company.
• Ability to operate confidently in an unclear environment with limited direction.
• Strong problem-solving ability, solid project management skills, and end-to-end ownership of strategy and execution across a marketplace.
• Business judgment, strong analytical thinking, and comfort working with data to uncover and act on insights.
• Fluency in German and English, both written and spoken, plus a strong understanding of the German market.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in a high-growth startup, marketplace, or creator-focused platform.
• Working knowledge of SQL.
• Interest in creator communities and/or familiarity with Whatnot’s categories, such as vintage clothing or collectibles.
• Experience buying and selling on online marketplaces.

Benefits

• Generous holiday and time-off policy.
• Health insurance options covering medical, dental, and vision.
• Support for working from home.
• Home office setup allowance.
• Monthly support for phone and internet costs.
• Care-related benefits.
• Monthly wellness allowance.
• Annual childcare allowance.
• Lifetime support for family-planning expenses such as adoption or fertility care.
• Retirement and pension plans across international locations.
• Monthly allowance to use the app and experience the product.
• Employees are expected to build a deep understanding of the product by using Whatnot as both a buyer and a seller.
• Parental leave support.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave plus one month of gradual return to work, with company leave allowances running alongside applicable country leave rules.

Equal Opportunity and Privacy

Whatnot is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values a diverse workforce. Hiring decisions are made without discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, parental status, disability, or any other protected status under local law. The company states that diversity of skills and experience strengthens its culture and work.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is €81K to €90K.