Director, Public Policy

Join the Future of Commerce with Whatnot!

Whatnot is the largest live shopping platform in North America and Europe, enabling users to buy, sell, and discover unique items. We are redefining e-commerce by integrating community, shopping, and entertainment into a unique experience. As a remote co-located team, we are driven by innovation and our core values, with hubs across the US, UK, Germany, Ireland, Poland, and Australia. We are collectively building the future of online marketplaces, offering everything from fashion and beauty to collectibles and live plants through our live auctions.

As one of the fastest-growing marketplaces, Whatnot seeks bold, forward-thinking problem solvers across all functional areas. You can explore our latest updates on our news and engineering blogs and join us in empowering individuals to transform their passions into businesses, fostering community through commerce.

The Role: Director, Public Policy

We are searching for an experienced public policy strategist and advocate to spearhead Whatnot’s public policy efforts across the EU and UK. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for developing and executing Whatnot’s public policy and government engagement strategy, introducing Whatnot and the concept of live shopping to policymakers and external partners, and actively shaping the regulatory environment in which we operate.

You will work in close collaboration with various cross-functional teams, including Legal, Communications, Product, Trust & Risk, Tax, and our Go-To-Market teams. Your responsibilities will involve analyzing proposed legislation and regulation, assessing its potential impact on Whatnot, and formulating and implementing appropriate responses.

This position is ideal for someone who is equally energized by crafting high-level strategy and executing hands-on initiatives. You must be a compelling storyteller, capable of communicating complex ideas clearly both in writing and in person, and enthusiastic about contributing to the growth of live shopping and the evolution of commerce.

The Director, Public Policy will report directly to the Head of Global Public Policy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Whatnot’s advocacy across the EU and UK, clearly articulating how Whatnot supports sellers and buyers in Europe and becoming an authoritative voice on live shopping and marketplace platforms.
• Build and cultivate trusted relationships with key policymakers, regulators, government officials, business associations, civil society organizations, and other relevant third parties.
• Proactively monitor and interpret policy and regulatory developments throughout the EU and UK, collaborating with internal Whatnot teams to understand the implications for our product, operations, and sellers.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on the implications of critical policy and regulatory proposals, offering clear recommendations and framing potential trade-offs.
• Position Whatnot as a credible, constructive partner on a wide range of topics, including 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 their efforts align with Whatnot’s strategic priorities and messaging.
• Collaborate closely with the Head of Global Public Policy and cross-functional partners to establish priorities, refine narratives, and prepare for emerging policy issues.

Whatnot offers the flexibility to work from home or from one of our global office hubs, while also valuing in-person collaboration for planning, problem-solving, and connection. Team members in this role must reside within commuting distance of our London, UK hub. Regular travel within Europe and periodic travel to the U.S. will be required.

Who Thrives at Whatnot

At Whatnot, individuals who embody a low ego, a growth mindset, and a high-impact drive tend to excel. As our Director, Public Policy, you should possess:

• 7+ years of public policy or government affairs experience, gained either with or within European institutions and national governments.
• Strong policy judgment and subject-matter fluency across issues pertinent to Whatnot, demonstrating a clear understanding of what constitutes material risk versus mere noise, and when and where to engage.
• Proven experience in building and sustaining trusted relationships with policymakers, regulators, industry groups, and civil society – either with an established network or the proven ability to rapidly build one.
• Clear, effective written and oral communication skills, coupled with an innate ability to discern subtext in complex policy debates and stakeholder conversations.
• Comfort in seamlessly transitioning from defining high-level strategy to executing tactical plans.
• A collaborative approach to achieving outcomes, with demonstrable experience partnering closely with Legal, Product, Communications, and external consultants.

Benefits

• Generous Holiday and Time Off Policy
• Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision
• Work From Home Support and Home office setup allowance
• Monthly allowance for cell phone and internet
• Care benefits and Monthly allowance for wellness
• Annual allowance towards Childcare
• Lifetime benefit for family planning, such as adoption or fertility expenses
• Retirement: 401k offering for Traditional and Roth accounts in the US (employer match up to 4% of base salary) and Pension plans internationally
• Monthly allowance to dogfood the app – all Whatnauts are expected to develop a deep understanding of our product by using it as both a buyer and a seller.
• Parental Leave: 16 weeks of paid parental leave + one month gradual return to work (company leave allowances run concurrently with country leave requirements which take precedence).

Key skills/competency

• Public Policy
• Government Affairs
• Regulatory Strategy
• E-commerce Policy
• Stakeholder Engagement
• EU Policy
• UK Policy
• Platform Liability
• Consumer Protection
• Strategic Communications