Director of European and UK Public Policy, Whatnot
More information about location
Live stream platform & marketplace
Open for applications
Live stream platform & marketplace
1001+ employees
Open for applications
More information about location
1001+ employees
Company mission
To enable anyone to turn their passion into a business and bring people together through commerce.
Role
Who you are
- This role is a great fit if you are energized by both big-picture strategy and hands-on execution
- You are an avid storyteller who can communicate clearly in writing and in person, and you are excited about being part of the growth of live shopping and the future of commerce
- Curious about who thrives at Whatnot? We’ve found that embodying a low ego, growth mindset, and high-impact drive goes a long way here
- 7+ years of public policy or government affairs experience with or in European institutions and national governments
- Strong policy judgment and subject-matter fluency across issues relevant to Whatnot, with a clear sense of where risk is truly material, what’s just noise, and when and where to engage
- Experience building and sustaining trusted relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry groups, and civil society — with either an existing network or the ability to build one quickly
- Clear, effective written and oral communication skills and an instinct for reading subtext in complex policy debates and stakeholder conversations
- Comfort moving seamlessly from defining strategy to executing it
- A collaborative approach to driving outcomes, with experience partnering closely with Legal, Product, Comms, and external consultants
What the job involves
- We are looking for an experienced public policy strategist and advocate to lead Whatnot’s public policy work across the EU and UK
- You’ll create and execute Whatnot’s public policy and government engagement strategy, introduce Whatnot and live shopping to policymakers and external partners, and help shape the regulatory environment in which we operate
- You will work collaboratively with cross-functional colleagues across the business — including Legal, Communications, Product, Trust & Risk, Tax, and our Go-To-Market teams — to analyse proposed legislation and regulation, assess the impact on Whatnot, and develop and execute an appropriate response
- The Director, European Public Policy will report to the Head of Global Public Policy
- Lead Whatnot’s advocacy across the EU and UK, articulating how Whatnot supports sellers and buyers in Europe and becoming an authoritative voice on live shopping and marketplace platforms
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with key policymakers, regulators, and government officials, as well as with business associations, civil society organisations, and other third parties
- Monitor and interpret policy and regulatory developments across the EU and UK, collaborating with teams across Whatnot to understand the impact on our product, operations, and sellers
- Advise senior leadership on the implications of key policy and regulatory proposals, providing clear recommendations and framing trade-offs
- Position Whatnot as a credible, constructive partner on topics such as e-commerce, shipping and customs, product safety, platform liability, and consumer protection
- Manage and coordinate external consultants and advisors in Brussels, London and key European markets, ensuring they are aligned with Whatnot’s priorities and messaging
- Collaborate closely with the Head of Global Public Policy and cross-functional partners to set priorities, refine narrative, and prepare for emerging issues
Salary benchmarks
Our take
Live shopping is changing the way people engage with eCommerce and Whatnot is one of the key platforms driving this shift. The company operates across the US, UK, and Europe, where millions of people connect each day to buy, sell, and build communities around shared interests.
Founded in 2019, Whatnot allows real-time auctions where buyers can watch sellers showcase products and share their expertise, creating a more interactive and personal shopper experience. Sellers include individual creators and small businesses who use live shows to reach audiences and grow their online presence.
As of 2025, the company reports over $6B in sales, with sellers earning significantly more on average than other major marketplaces. And with a range of investor support, Whatnot is committed to developing new ways to make online shopping more social and community-driven.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Meet the team
Jon Malkemus, VP Product Design
Insights
54% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 8 rounds)
Oct 2025
$225m
SERIES F
Jan 2025
$265m
SERIES E
Total funding: $974.2m
Company benefits
- Wellness: Health, dental, vision, and life insurance plans. We also cover some of the cost for your dependents as well.
- Compensation: Generous compensation, including a competitive base salary and equity. Whatnot offers monthly reimbursement for internet and phone costs, along with a one-time home office set-up allowance. Whatnot offers a pension plan and matches employee contributions of up to 4% of the employee’s base salary.
- Recharge: Whatnot gives you the freedom to take time off as you see fit. And, we take company-wide Winter and Summer breaks so we can recharge. Whatnot provides a monthly allowance for wellness expenses. We know that to take care of our customers, we have to take care of ourselves. Supplemental health and life insurance coverage comes standard at Whatnot. 16 weeks of paid parental leave, and an additional one-month gradual return-to-work period.* Plus an additional childcare allowance, and a lifetime allowance for family planning, including adoption and fertility expenses. *The leave allowances provided by Whatnot may be dictated / informed by your country’s legal requirements,
- Flexibility: As a remote co-located team, we’re inspired by innovation and anchored in our values. With hubs in the US, UK, Germany, Ireland, and Poland, we’re building the future of online marketplaces –together.
Company values
- Always listen to customers
- Move uncomfortably fast
- Prioritize impact ruthlessly
- Own everything and nothing
- Set crazy goals
- Provide extreme transparency
- Optimize for the upside
- Team over ego
- Figure it out
- Deeply understand why
- Have fun & be kind
Company HQ
Venice, Los Angeles, CA
Articles
Leadership
Grant LaFontaine
(Co-Founder & CEO)Former Product Marketing Manager at Google, Project Manager at Facebook. Also co-founded Kit.
Logan Head
(Co-Founder & CTO)Experience in Engineering, including at Maker's Row, Factr, and Flight Club. Former Senior Product Manager at GOAT.
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