Head of European and UK Policy
Whatnot · Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- On site
- Full-time
- €160,000 / year
- Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Job highlights
- Shape global policies for trust, safety, and commerce.
- Focus on European and UK market nuances.
- Requires strong policy judgment and leadership.
- Experience with AI tools and cross-regional policy.
- Remote work with hub options available.
About the role
About Whatnot
Whatnot is the largest livestream shopping platform in North America and Europe, enabling users to buy, sell, and discover items they love. We are building live commerce at an unprecedented scale in the West, defining a new industry. Our team is collaborative, driven by values, and operates across the US, UK, Ireland, Poland, Germany, and Australia. We prioritize rapid execution, user proximity, and impactful work.
Recognized as the #1 Best Startup Employer in America by Forbes, Whatnot is one of the fastest-growing marketplaces. Stay updated on our progress through our news and engineering blogs. Join us in empowering individuals to transform their passions into businesses and foster community through commerce.
Role Overview
Whatnot seeks an experienced policy leader to spearhead the development and refinement of our global policies and frameworks. This role focuses on trust and safety, marketplace integrity, and commerce, with a specific emphasis on Europe. You will be instrumental in defining how Whatnot safeguards buyers, supports sellers, and scales responsibly by creating clear, principled, and enduring policies.
This position is ideal for a builder who thrives in ambiguity and views uncharted territory as an opportunity for definition. You are motivated by novel challenges without existing playbooks or industry standards and are eager to shape approaches to complex trade-offs. Your strength lies in influencing outcomes through reasoned arguments and sound judgment.
Responsibilities
- Author and evolve global policies and frameworks covering commerce, buyer and seller protections, fraud, and trust and safety.
- Establish clear, principled boundaries in complex or ambiguous areas to enhance consistency and durability as the platform scales.
- Ensure tight alignment between policy design, operational enforcement, and user-facing guidance.
- Utilize data, trend analysis, and structured problem-solving to identify emerging risks, validate policy proposals, and assess downstream operational impact.
- Integrate a European perspective into global policy development by monitoring evolving trends and user expectations, proactively adapting frameworks for cultural nuances and reinforcing trust.
- Resolve escalated or ambiguous policy questions, offering principled recommendations and clearly articulating trade-offs to cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
We offer flexibility with remote work options or the use of our global office hubs. In-person collaboration is valued for planning, problem-solving, and team building. Team members in this role must reside within commuting distance of our Dublin, Ireland; London, UK; or Berlin, Germany hubs. Occasional travel to the U.S. will be required.
Candidate Profile
Successful Whatnot employees are adaptable, action-oriented, and genuinely invested in our mission. They prioritize outcomes over individual recognition and maintain close ties with the product and its users.
Qualifications
- Significant leadership experience in shaping Trust and Safety, Marketplace, or Platform Governance policy and frameworks within a technology or e-commerce company.
- Demonstrated strong policy judgment and comfort operating in ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments.
- 7+ years of experience working across multiple regions or markets, balancing consistency with local nuance.
- Proficiency in modern AI tools, including large language models, with practical experience applying them to policy development, analysis, and operational efficiency.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate policy rationale and trade-offs.
- A structured, systems-oriented approach to reducing ambiguity and enhancing governance clarity.
Benefits
- Generous Holiday and Time off Policy
- Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision
- Work From Home Support
- Home office setup allowance
- Monthly allowance for cell phone and internet
- Care benefits
- Monthly allowance for wellness
- Annual allowance towards Childcare
- Lifetime benefit for family planning (e.g., adoption, fertility expenses)
- Retirement: 401k with employer match (US) and international pension plans.
- Monthly allowance to use Whatnot as a buyer and seller (dogfooding).
- Parental Leave: 16 weeks paid leave with a one-month gradual return to work.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Whatnot is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, parental status, disability status, or any other protected characteristic under local law. We believe diverse perspectives enhance our work and company culture.
Compensation
€110K - €160K
Key skills/competency
- Policy Development
- Trust and Safety
- Marketplace Integrity
- E-commerce Policy
- European Policy
- Risk Management
- Stakeholder Management
- AI Tools
- Governance
- Cross-functional Collaboration
Skills & topics
- Head of Policy
- European Policy
- UK Policy
- Trust and Safety
- Marketplace Integrity
- E-commerce
- Platform Governance
- Policy Development
- Risk Management
- AI Policy
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight leadership in policy, trust and safety, and e-commerce. Quantify achievements in policy development and risk mitigation.
- Showcase AI proficiency: Detail your experience using AI tools, especially LLMs, for policy analysis and development.
- Emphasize European experience: Demonstrate your understanding of balancing global consistency with local nuances in policy.
- Prepare for ambiguity: Be ready to discuss how you navigate complex, fast-evolving environments and define new frameworks.
- Research Whatnot's culture: Understand their values and focus on building and user-centricity for your application and interviews.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What are the main responsibilities for the Head of European and UK Policy at Whatnot?
- The Head of European and UK Policy at Whatnot will be responsible for authoring and evolving global policies across commerce, buyer and seller protections, fraud, and trust and safety. This includes ensuring policy design, operational enforcement, and user guidance are aligned, identifying emerging risks through data analysis, and applying a European lens to global policy development. You will also resolve escalated policy questions and frame trade-offs for stakeholders.
- What experience is required for the Head of European and UK Policy role at Whatnot?
- The ideal candidate will have significant leadership experience shaping Trust and Safety, Marketplace, or Platform Governance policy and frameworks at a technology or e-commerce company. A minimum of 7 years of experience working across multiple regions, balancing consistency and local nuance, is required. Proficiency with modern AI tools, including large language models, and strong communication and structured problem-solving skills are also essential.
- What are the location requirements for this policy leadership role at Whatnot?
- While Whatnot offers flexibility with remote work and global office hubs, team members for this role must live within commuting distance of their Dublin, Ireland; London, UK; or Berlin, Germany hubs. Periodic travel to the U.S. will also be required.
- What is the compensation range for the Head of European and UK Policy position?
- The compensation range for the Head of European and UK Policy at Whatnot is between €110,000 and €160,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.
- How does Whatnot utilize AI in its policy development for this role?
- Whatnot expects candidates to be fluent in modern AI tools, including large language models, and have experience using them thoughtfully. This includes applying AI to improve policy development, analysis, and operational leverage, contributing to more efficient and effective policy frameworks.
- What does 'operating in ambiguity' mean for the Head of European and UK Policy at Whatnot?
- Operating in ambiguity for this role means being comfortable defining clear direction in complex or fast-evolving environments where established playbooks or industry norms may not exist. It involves seeing grey space as an opportunity to build new, principled frameworks and to shape how complex trade-offs are approached with thoughtful reasoning and steady judgment.