Head of European and UK Policy

📋 Description

• • Whatnot is seeking a visionary and experienced Head of European and UK Policy to spearhead the development and refinement of our global policy frameworks. As a leading live shopping platform experiencing rapid growth across North America and Europe, Whatnot is at the forefront of redefining e-commerce by seamlessly integrating community, shopping, and entertainment. This pivotal role will be instrumental in shaping how Whatnot ensures trust and safety, maintains marketplace integrity, and scales responsibly across diverse European markets, with a significant focus on the UK.
• • This position is ideal for a proactive and strategic leader who thrives in dynamic, ambiguous environments and views challenges as opportunities to establish clear, impactful direction. You will be responsible for crafting policies that are not only clear and principled but also robust and enduring, designed to protect our buyers, empower our sellers, and foster a sustainable, trustworthy marketplace. If you are motivated by novel problems that lack established playbooks and are adept at navigating complex trade-offs with thoughtful reasoning and sound judgment, this role offers a unique chance to influence the future of our platform.
• • As the Head of European and UK Policy, your core responsibilities will include authoring and continuously evolving comprehensive global policies and frameworks. These will span critical areas such as commerce regulations, buyer and seller protections, fraud prevention, and overall trust and safety. A key aspect of this role is to define clear, principled boundaries within complex or ambiguous domains, ensuring consistency and durability as the platform scales. You will be tasked with ensuring that policy design, operational enforcement mechanisms, and user-facing guidance are meticulously aligned, creating a cohesive and effective policy ecosystem.
• • You will leverage a data-driven approach, employing trend analysis and structured problem-solving methodologies to proactively identify emerging risks. This includes rigorously pressure-testing proposed policy changes and meticulously evaluating their downstream operational impact. By deeply understanding the nuances of the European market, you will apply a European lens to global policy development. This involves closely monitoring emerging trends, anticipating evolving user expectations, and proactively strengthening our policy frameworks to reflect cultural specificities, thereby reinforcing clarity and building user trust.
• • A critical function of this role will be to resolve escalated or ambiguous policy questions. You will provide well-reasoned, principled recommendations and effectively frame complex trade-offs for cross-functional teams and senior leadership. This requires exceptional analytical skills and the ability to communicate intricate policy matters with precision and clarity.
• • The role demands a sophisticated understanding of modern AI tools, including large language models. You will be expected to utilize these tools thoughtfully to enhance policy development, refine analytical processes, and improve operational leverage, ensuring Whatnot remains at the cutting edge of policy innovation.
• • Collaboration will be key, working closely with legal, product, engineering, operations, and marketing teams to embed policy considerations into product development and business strategies. You will also engage with external stakeholders, including regulators and industry bodies, to stay abreast of legislative changes and best practices.
• • This position offers the flexibility to work remotely or from one of our global office hubs. We highly value in-person collaboration for strategic planning, intensive problem-solving, and team connection. Successful candidates must reside within commuting distance of our Dublin, Ireland; London, UK; or Berlin, Germany hubs. Periodic travel to the U.S. will be required to foster global alignment and collaboration.
• • Whatnot is a fast-growing marketplace committed to enabling anyone to turn their passion into a business. By joining us, you will play a crucial role in shaping the policies that govern our vibrant community and ensure a safe, fair, and engaging experience for millions of users worldwide. Your contributions will directly impact our ability to scale responsibly and maintain the trust that is fundamental to our success.