- Job Title: Head of Marketing Strategy and Operations
- Company: Whatnot
- Location: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, New York, NY
- Job Type: On-site (with hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York)
- Category: Marketing
- Date Posted: May 2, 2025
- Experience Level: 7+ years in strategy and operations roles
- Remote Status: Hybrid (required to be within commuting distance of hubs)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Setting the operating rhythm for the Marketing team to achieve their goals
- Managing planning, goal-setting, and supporting strategic initiatives
- Driving standardization and automation of marketing processes
- Collaborating cross-functionally with Data, Finance, and Category teams
- Launching and testing new teams, functions, and processes
*ASSUMPTION:* This role requires a strong analytical background and experience in fast-paced organizations. A passion for the company's mission and the ability to thrive in ambiguity are essential.
📋 Key Responsibilities
- Operational Planning and Management:
- Manage cross-functional relationships with Data and Finance teams
- Own the definition and allocation of the Marketing budget
- Develop and iterate on the operating rhythm between Marketing and Categories teams
- Drive standardization and automation of core marketing processes and reporting
- Strategic Initiatives:
- Stand up and scale new and existing functions tied to strategy and growth plans
- Work with Marketing leadership to launch and test new teams, functions, and processes
- Go deep into opportunities and issues to truly understand and capitalize on marketing capabilities
*ASSUMPTION:* This role involves a high level of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong project management skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business, Marketing, or a related discipline)
- Experience: 7+ years in strategy and operations roles (e.g., consulting, finance, GM, Operations)
- Required Skills:
- Proven experience in strategy and operations roles
- Strong analytical skills and data manipulation experience
- Proficiency in SQL and dashboarding tools
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
- Experience working with Marketing or Growth teams
- Ability to thrive in ambiguity and work quickly and iteratively in a fast-paced environment
- Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in a startup or fast-growing company
- Familiarity with the live streaming or e-commerce industries
- Knowledge of the Whatnot platform and its communities
*ASSUMPTION:* Candidates with experience in marketing strategy and operations roles within the live streaming or e-commerce industries will have a strong advantage.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
- Salary Range: $190,000/year to $245,000/year
- *ASSUMPTION:* This range is inclusive of several levels and may vary based on relevant prior experience, skills, and expertise.
- Benefits:
- Flexible Time Off Policy and Company-wide Holidays
- Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, and 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 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
- Parental Leave: 16 weeks of paid parental leave + one month gradual return to work
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
- Industry: Whatnot operates in the live streaming shopping and e-commerce industries, focusing on building communities around shared interests and passions.
- Company Size: Medium (501-1,000 employees)
- *ASSUMPTION:* As a medium-sized company, Whatnot offers a dynamic and collaborative work environment with ample opportunities for growth and impact.
- Founded: 2019
- *ASSUMPTION:* As a relatively young company, Whatnot has a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
- Company Description: Whatnot is the largest livestream shopping platform in North America and Europe, enabling buyers and sellers to connect through shared interests and passions. With hubs in the US, UK, Ireland, Poland, and Germany, Whatnot fosters a remote co-located team culture anchored in its values.
- Company Specialties: Live streaming shopping, e-commerce, community building, and user experience design
📊 Role Analysis
- Career Level: Senior-level role with significant strategic and operational responsibilities
- Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer and oversees the Marketing team's operating rhythm and strategic initiatives.
- Work Arrangement: Hybrid (required to be within commuting distance of Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York hubs)
- *ASSUMPTION:* This role requires regular on-site presence to facilitate cross-functional collaboration and communication.
- Growth Opportunities:
- As the first Head of Marketing Strategy and Operations, this role offers significant growth potential as the Marketing team and the company continue to expand.
- Opportunities to shape the Marketing team's operating rhythm and contribute to the company's overall strategy and growth.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
- Office Type: Hybrid (combination of on-site and remote work)
- Office Location(s): Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; New York, NY
- Geographic Context:
- Los Angeles: A vibrant and diverse city with a strong entertainment and tech industry presence
- San Francisco: A major tech hub with a high cost of living and a competitive job market
- New York: A global financial and cultural center with a fast-paced and dynamic work environment
- Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week)
- *ASSUMPTION:* This role may require occasional overtime or flexible hours to meet project deadlines.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
- Typical Process:
1. Online application review
2. Phone or video screen with the Hiring Manager
3. On-site or virtual interview with the Marketing team and other stakeholders
4. Final interview with the Chief Marketing Officer
5. Background check and offer extension
- Key Assessment Areas:
- Analytical skills and problem-solving abilities
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Cross-functional collaboration and communication
- Adaptability and comfort working in ambiguity
- Passion for the company's mission and commitment to its values
- Application Tips:
1. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
2. Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and adaptability.
3. Familiarize yourself with the Whatnot platform and its unique value proposition to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the company's mission.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- SQL and dashboarding tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
- Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, or Jira)
- Marketing automation and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Marketo, or HubSpot)
- Collaboration and communication tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Workspace)
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
- Company Values: Whatnot's values include:
- Community: We put our communities first and strive to create meaningful connections between buyers and sellers.
- Innovation: We embrace change and continuously seek new ways to improve the Whatnot experience.
- Integrity: We act with honesty and transparency in all our interactions, both internally and externally.
- Collaboration: We work together to achieve our goals and support each other's growth and success.
- Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic, with a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement
- Collaborative and supportive, with a emphasis on cross-functional teamwork
- Results-driven, with a focus on achieving measurable outcomes and driving business impact
- Self-Assessment Questions:
1. How have you demonstrated your ability to thrive in ambiguity and adapt to changing priorities in previous roles?
2. Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully led a strategic initiative that required cross-functional collaboration and coordination?
3. How do you approach learning and applying new tools and technologies to improve your work and the work of your team?
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Role-specific Challenges:
- Balancing the need for strategic planning with the fast-paced and dynamic nature of the live streaming shopping industry
- Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders with varying priorities and goals
- Managing the operating rhythm of a growing Marketing team with limited resources
- Company-specific Challenges:
- Navigating a remote co-located work environment with team members across multiple time zones
- Maintaining a strong company culture and sense of community as the organization continues to grow and scale
- Industry-specific Challenges:
- Keeping up with the latest trends and technologies in the live streaming shopping and e-commerce industries
- Addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the live streaming format, such as latency, technical issues, and audience engagement
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- How this role differs from related positions:
- This role focuses on setting the operating rhythm and driving strategic initiatives for the Marketing team, rather than managing day-to-day marketing campaigns or tactics.
- This role requires a strong analytical background and experience in strategy and operations, rather than marketing execution or creative skills.
- Industry-specific context:
- The live streaming shopping industry is a relatively new and rapidly evolving space, with unique challenges and opportunities compared to traditional e-commerce or brick-and-mortar retail.
- Career path comparison:
- This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the operating rhythm of a growing Marketing team and contribute to the company's overall strategy and growth. With success, this role could lead to further leadership or strategic positions within the company.
📝 Sample Projects
- Role-specific project examples:
- Developing and implementing a new goal-setting process for the Marketing team to improve alignment and accountability
- Streamlining the marketing budget allocation process to ensure efficient and effective resource utilization
- Launching a new marketing analytics dashboard to provide real-time insights and inform strategic decision-making
- Industry-specific project examples:
- Conducting market research to identify new opportunities for live streaming shopping categories or formats
- Developing and executing a go-to-market strategy for a new product or feature launch
- Analyzing competitor strategies and trends to inform Whatnot's marketing approach
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
1. How does this role fit into the company's overall strategy and growth plans?
2. What are the biggest challenges facing the Marketing team, and how can this role help address them?
3. How does the company support the professional development and growth of its employees?
4. What are the key priorities for the Marketing team in the first 90 days, and how can this role contribute to their success?
5. How does the company measure the success of its marketing initiatives, and what key performance indicators (KPIs) will this role be responsible for tracking?
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through [this link](https://whatnot.com/careers).
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role.
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and adaptability.
- Familiarize yourself with the Whatnot platform and its unique value proposition to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the company's mission.
- Follow up with the Hiring Manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
