Head of European and UK Policy

About Whatnot

Whatnot operates a leading livestream shopping marketplace across North America and Europe, where people can buy, sell, and discover products they care about. Sellers use the platform to build real businesses in categories such as trading cards, fashion, electronics, and live plants. The company is developing live commerce at a scale that has not previously existed in the West, so the work involves creating the norms and structures for an emerging industry.

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

Role Overview

This position is for an experienced policy leader who can shape and refine Whatnot’s global policy frameworks, with a particular focus on Europe and the UK. The role centers on trust and safety, marketplace integrity, and commerce policy. You will help define how the platform protects buyers, supports sellers, and scales responsibly by building policies that are clear, durable, and grounded in strong principles.

The role suits someone who is comfortable building in uncertain environments, can turn grey areas into clear decisions, and enjoys working on new problems without established playbooks. Success in this role depends on sound judgment, thoughtful reasoning, and the ability to influence outcomes across teams and senior stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and continuously improve policies and frameworks related to commerce, buyer and seller protections, fraud, and trust and safety.
• Set clear boundaries in complex or unclear areas so policy remains consistent and resilient as the platform grows.
• Keep policy design, operational enforcement, and user-facing guidance closely aligned.
• Use data, trend review, and structured analysis to spot emerging risks, test policy ideas, and understand operational consequences.
• Apply a Europe-focused perspective to global policy work by monitoring market shifts and user expectations, and by adjusting frameworks to reflect local nuance and strengthen trust.
• Handle escalated or ambiguous policy issues and provide well-reasoned recommendations for cross-functional and senior partners.

Work Location and Travel

This role allows working from home or from a global office hub, with regular in-person time for planning, problem-solving, and team connection. Candidates must live within commuting distance of the Dublin, Ireland hub, the London, UK hub, or the Berlin, Germany hub. Occasional travel to the United States will be required.

Candidate Profile

People who thrive at Whatnot are curious, action-oriented, and comfortable working through problems as they arise. They focus on outcomes rather than recognition and stay close to both the product and the people who use it.

For this role, you should bring leadership experience in trust and safety, marketplace policy, or platform governance at a technology or ecommerce company, along with the ability to navigate ambiguous and fast-changing situations.

Benefits

• Substantial holiday and time-off policy
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Support for working from home
• Allowance for home office setup
• Monthly support for phone and internet costs
• Care-related benefits
• Monthly wellness allowance
• Annual childcare allowance
• Lifetime support for family planning expenses, including adoption or fertility needs
• Retirement benefits, including a 401(k) plan in the US with traditional and Roth options plus employer matching up to 4% of base salary, and pension plans outside the US
• Monthly budget to use the app as part of the job
• Parental leave benefits
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave plus one month of gradual return to work, subject to local leave requirements

Equal Opportunity

Whatnot is an equal opportunity employer. The company welcomes diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, parental status, disability, or any other protected status under local law. It believes a diverse workforce strengthens both the company culture and the quality of its work.

Compensation

The stated pay range for this role is €200,000 to €276,000.