Product Design Director, Buyer at WhatNot

Los Angeles, California, United States

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$280,000 – $320,000Compensation

Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

E-commerce, Live Shopping, MarketplaceIndustries

Requirements

10+ years of product design experience, with at least 3 years leading teams
Player-coach mindset—excited to mentor, but equally passionate about designing and solving problems hands-on
Strong portfolio showcasing interaction and visual design skills, with a track record of shipping successful products
Proven success designing and scaling customer-facing experiences across a complex funnel (acquisition through retention)
Deep expertise in interaction design, systems thinking, and user-centered design
Strong understanding of search, discovery, personalization, and taxonomy design principles
Experience in e-commerce, marketplaces, or live shopping platforms is a major plus
Embodying a low ego, growth mindset, and high-impact drive
Must be within commuting distance of New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, or Los Angeles, CA hubs

Responsibilities

Lead and scale a high-performing team of product designers across the buyer funnel
Define and drive the vision, strategy, and execution for the buyer experience in collaboration with cross-functional partners
Partner with research, data, and product to develop deep customer empathy and inform high-impact design decisions
Shape intuitive, elegant systems across discovery, live shopping, and post-purchase experiences
Ensure experiences are accessible, inclusive, and delightfully human
Champion design quality and consistency across surfaces while enabling speed and iteration
Nurture a strong design culture through mentorship, feedback, and high standards for craft and thinking
Represent design in executive conversations and influence company-wide priorities
Drive strategy and execution for customer acquisition, activation, retention, and re-engagement, including discovery surfaces (browse, search, ranking, personalization, taxonomy), live shopping experience, and customer service flows
Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Data Science, Marketing, and Executive Team to create joyful, seamless, and high-performing experiences

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Product DesignDesign StrategyUX DesignDesign LeadershipMentoringSearch DesignPersonalizationTaxonomyLive ShoppingCustomer Service Flows

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the Product Design Director, Buyer role?

The salary range is $280K - $320K.

Is this position remote or does it require working from an office?

Whatnot operates as a remote co-located team with hubs in the US, UK, Germany, Ireland, and Poland.

What are the key responsibilities and skills needed for this role?

The role requires leading and scaling a team of product designers, driving vision and strategy for the buyer experience, partnering cross-functionally, shaping intuitive systems, and nurturing design culture through mentorship.

What is the company culture like at Whatnot?

Whatnot emphasizes innovation, core values, bold forward-thinking problem solvers, community, and building joyful, seamless experiences while nurturing a strong design culture through mentorship and high standards.

What makes a strong candidate for the Product Design Director role?

Strong candidates are strategic and inspiring leaders who can act as player-coaches, balance leading and hands-on design, partner cross-functionally, champion design quality, and represent design in executive conversations.

WhatNot

Online marketplace for authentic collectibles

About WhatNot

Whatnot.com operates as an online marketplace dedicated to collectibles, particularly focusing on items like Funkos and FiGPiNs. The platform ensures that every collectible listed is 100% authentic through a rigorous verification process that includes hand authentication, providing trust and security for both buyers and sellers. It caters to collectors and enthusiasts who seek a reliable space to buy and sell rare and exclusive items from popular franchises such as Marvel Comics and Star Wars. Whatnot.com distinguishes itself from competitors by charging low fees on sales and offering seller protection, which guarantees prompt and secure payments. The company's goal is to create a trusted environment for the growing community of collectible enthusiasts, facilitating safe and easy transactions for unique items.

Marina del Rey, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2019Year Founded

$728.7MTotal Funding

SERIES_ECompany Stage

Consumer Software, Consumer GoodsIndustries

501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Competitive base salary and stock options

Unlimited Vacation Policy and No Meeting Holidays

Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short term disability & Long term Disability

Work From Home Support

Up to $500 monthly to spend within Whatnot App

Care benefits

Risks

Increased competition from TikTok Shop may impact Whatnot's market share.

The collectibles market's volatility could affect Whatnot's sales and inventory.

Expansion into new categories may dilute Whatnot's specialized brand identity.

Differentiation

Whatnot offers a unique marketplace for 100% authenticated collectible items.

The platform integrates live shopping with entertainment, enhancing user engagement.

Whatnot's partnerships with major franchises like Marvel boost its market appeal.

Upsides

Whatnot's $265M funding round supports expansion and new product categories.

The platform's collaboration with PSA enhances trust through integrated authentication services.

Rising interest in live shopping among younger demographics drives Whatnot's growth.

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