Director, European and UK Public Policy

Whatnot, Inc.

Job Overview

Location

London, UK

Job Type

Full-time

Full Job Description

📋 Description

• Lead Whatnot’s public policy advocacy across the EU and UK, articulating how the platform supports sellers and buyers in Europe and establishing Whatnot as an authoritative voice on live shopping and marketplace platforms.
• Develop and execute the company’s public policy and government engagement strategy tailored to the regulatory environments of the EU and UK, ensuring alignment with business objectives and growth priorities.
• Monitor, interpret, and assess proposed legislation and regulatory developments across the EU and UK, identifying implications for Whatnot’s product, operations, seller ecosystem, and compliance obligations.
• Advise senior leadership on the strategic impact of policy and regulatory proposals, providing clear risk assessments, actionable recommendations, and framing of trade-offs between operational feasibility and policy alignment.
• Build and maintain trusted, long-term relationships with key policymakers, regulators, government officials, industry associations, civil society organizations, and other external stakeholders across Europe.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Legal, Communications, Product, Trust & Risk, Tax, and Go-To-Market to analyze regulatory impacts, align messaging, and coordinate responses to legislative changes.
• Position Whatnot as a credible and constructive partner on critical policy topics including e-commerce, shipping and customs, product safety, platform liability, consumer protection, and digital marketplace governance.
• Manage and coordinate external consultants and advisors in Brussels, London, and key European markets, ensuring alignment with Whatnot’s policy priorities, messaging consistency, and strategic objectives.
• Work in close partnership with the Head of Global Public Policy to set regional priorities, refine narrative frameworks, and prepare proactive responses to emerging policy issues across Europe.
• Translate complex regulatory concepts into clear, compelling narratives for both internal stakeholders and external audiences, using strong written and oral communication skills to influence policy outcomes.
• Operate with equal proficiency at strategic and tactical levels, moving seamlessly between high-level policy planning and hands-on execution including drafting policy briefs, preparing testimony, coordinating stakeholder meetings, and managing regulatory filings.
• Maintain a deep understanding of the live commerce ecosystem, including seller and buyer behaviors, platform dynamics, and evolving consumer expectations in digital marketplaces.
• Travel within Europe as required for meetings with policymakers, industry groups, and partners, and undertake periodic travel to the U.S. to align with global policy teams and leadership.
• Demonstrate a collaborative, outcomes-oriented approach, prioritizing impact over individual credit and maintaining close alignment with product teams and operational realities.
• Comply with location requirements by residing within commuting distance of the London, UK office hub, ensuring availability for in-person collaboration and strategic planning sessions.
• Actively engage with Whatnot’s platform as both a buyer and seller, leveraging the monthly dogfooding allowance to develop firsthand insights into user experience and platform dynamics.

🎯 Requirements

• 8+ 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 e-commerce, platform liability, consumer protection, shipping/customs, and digital marketplaces
• Proven experience building and sustaining trusted relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry groups, and civil society organizations in the EU and UK
• Clear, effective written and oral communication skills with the ability to distill complex regulatory issues into compelling narratives
• Experience moving seamlessly from strategy formulation to hands-on execution, including managing external consultants and coordinating cross-functional responses
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with a bias toward action and a focus on outcomes over process

🏖️ Benefits

• Generous Holiday and Time off Policy
• Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision
• Work From Home Support with home office setup allowance and monthly cell phone and internet stipend
• Care benefits including monthly wellness allowance, annual childcare allowance, and lifetime family planning benefits for adoption or fertility expenses
• Retirement benefits: 401k with employer match up to 4% in the U.S. and Pension plans internationally
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave plus one month gradual return to work
• Monthly allowance to dogfood the Whatnot app as both a buyer and seller
• Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Skills & Technologies

Remote

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Whatnot, Inc.

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About Whatnot, Inc.

Whatnot operates a live-stream marketplace for collectibles, sneakers, trading cards, apparel, and other hobby items. Sellers host real-time auctions and fixed-price shows while buyers bid or purchase through the mobile app. The platform combines live video, integrated payments, and authenticated shipping to reduce fraud. Founded in 2019, the company is headquartered in Los Angeles and has raised multiple venture rounds to expand categories and international markets.

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