Category Lead, Germany
Category Lead, Germany

Category Lead, Germany

Full-Time 150000 - 200000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Whatnot

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and scale a category on Whatnot, driving growth and building community.
  • Company: Join the fastest growing livestream shopping platform in North America and Europe.
  • Benefits: Generous holiday, health insurance, remote work support, and parental leave.
  • Other info: Flexible work environment with excellent career development opportunities.
  • Why this job: Shape a new industry and make a real impact in live commerce.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in client-facing roles, fluent in German and English, strong leadership skills.

The predicted salary is between 150000 - 200000 £ per year.

Whatnot is the largest livestream shopping platform in North America and Europe to buy, sell, and discover the things you love. Our sellers are building real businesses across hundreds of categories. We're building live commerce at a scale that's never been done in the West, and there's no playbook to copy. The people here are shaping how an entirely new industry develops. As a remote co-located team, we're inspired by our values and anchored in hubs across the US, UK, Ireland, Poland, Germany, and Australia. We move fast, stay close to our users, and focus on the work that drives the most impact.

Join our team as a Category Lead and take charge of scaling a category on Whatnot. In this role, you will define the strategic vision of your category and work with Account Management, Sales, Marketing and other cross-functional teams to achieve it.

Define Our Strategy
  • Map the market, dive into the data, talk to sellers and buyers to build a perspective on how we should scale the category on Whatnot.
  • Define our action plan for addressing key challenges and opportunities in the category.
Lead Our Execution
  • Manage a team of dotted line reports in account management, sales and marketing to onboard and grow sellers, activate influencers and run community events.
  • Develop and mentor your team members to take ownership of their key initiatives.
  • Source, execute, and manage the highest priority partnerships in the category.
  • Own our data to define and monitor key success metrics in the category, using those insights to prioritise key focus areas for your team.
Drive Outsized Growth
  • Identify category unlocks, and work cross-functionally with product, marketing, operations, and engineering to bring to life solutions and initiatives that will step-change category growth.
  • Work alongside executives to propose and execute tests that can give the insight we need to adapt to the evolving needs of the category.
Be The Voice Of Your Category
  • Be an advocate of our mission as you build relationships with top sellers and buyers, seeking to understand their perspectives and ensuring that our product meets their needs.
  • Carry our culture by guiding your team to deeply understand the core components of the business and product so they can best pitch sellers and grow your community.
Location and Availability

We offer flexibility to work from home or from one of our global office hubs. Team members in this role must live within commuting distance of either our Berlin, Germany or London, UK hubs.

You

People who do well at Whatnot tend to be comfortable figuring things out as they go, biased toward action, and genuinely curious about what they're building. They care more about outcomes than credit and stay close to the product and the people using it.

As our next Category Lead, you should have 5+ years of experience working in a fast-paced, client-facing role in high-output environments, such as: Strategy Consulting, Venture Capital, Private Equity, or partnerships at a fast-paced tech company, plus:

  • You have a passion for our mission at Whatnot - you live and breathe the needs of our communities and work relentlessly to improve their experiences on Whatnot.
  • You operate as a player/coach and will get in the weeds to produce results in a highly ambiguous environment.
  • You are scrappy, and no job is too small.
  • Fluent German and English with a deep understanding of the German market.
  • You are a world-class leader with experience managing and developing a team.
  • You are deeply analytical and comfortable understanding and manipulating data to gain and take action on business insights.
Nice to Have
  • Experience with two-sided platforms and marketplace dynamics.
  • Passion for creator communities and live e-commerce.
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, 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.
  • Parental Leave: 16 weeks of paid parental leave + one month gradual return to work.
EOE

Whatnot is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, parental status, disability status, or any other status protected by local law. We believe that our work is better and our company culture is improved when we encourage, support, and respect the different skills and experiences represented within our workforce.

Compensation Range: €150K - €200K

Category Lead, Germany employer: Whatnot

Whatnot is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, empowering employees to shape the future of live commerce. With generous benefits including flexible working arrangements, comprehensive health insurance, and robust support for personal and professional growth, team members are encouraged to thrive in their roles while making a meaningful impact. Located in vibrant hubs like Berlin, employees enjoy a collaborative environment that values diversity and creativity, making it an ideal place for passionate individuals to develop their careers.
Whatnot

Contact Detail:

Whatnot Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Category Lead, Germany

✨Tip Number 1

Get to know the company inside out! Research Whatnot's mission, values, and recent updates. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.

✨Tip Number 2

Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to the role. Think about how your experience aligns with Whatnot's needs, especially in scaling categories and managing teams.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interviews! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make decisions.

We think you need these skills to ace Category Lead, Germany

Strategic Vision Development
Market Analysis
Data Manipulation
Team Management
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partnership Management
Community Engagement
Fluent German and English
Analytical Skills
Client-Facing Experience
Problem-Solving Skills
Adaptability in Ambiguous Environments
Passion for E-commerce
Leadership Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for Whatnot shine through! We want to see how much you care about our mission and the communities we serve. Share your experiences that align with our values and show us why you're the perfect fit.

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Category Lead role. Highlight relevant experience in strategy consulting or partnerships, and don’t forget to mention your analytical skills. We love seeing how your background can help us scale our categories!

Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make sure your key achievements stand out!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re proactive, which we love!

How to prepare for a job interview at Whatnot

✨Know Your Market Inside Out

Before the interview, dive deep into the German market and Whatnot's position within it. Understand the key players, trends, and challenges in the live commerce space. This will not only show your passion but also your analytical skills when discussing strategies.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

As a Category Lead, you'll be managing teams. Be prepared to discuss your leadership approach and how you've successfully developed team members in the past. Share specific examples of how you’ve motivated teams to achieve their goals, especially in fast-paced environments.

✨Prepare for Data-Driven Discussions

Since the role requires a strong analytical mindset, come ready to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles. Think of examples where your insights led to significant growth or improvements, and be ready to explain your thought process.

✨Emphasise Your Passion for Community

Whatnot values community engagement, so express your genuine interest in building relationships with sellers and buyers. Share any relevant experiences where you've successfully engaged with communities or created initiatives that enhanced user experience.

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