Whatnot Verified
E-commerce, Live Streaming, Social Commerce, Marketplace
Strategy & Operations Senior Manager, Japan
TokyoHybridFull TimeManager / HeadPosted 1 month agoHidden Gem · YC Startup
Required skills
- post-purchase operations
- scalable processes
- operating models
- Japanese market
Nice to have
- SQL
- Looker
- Sigma
- Hex
Role summary
Whatnot is seeking a Strategy & Operations Senior Manager for its Japan market. This role will be the first hire in Japan for the Commerce Strategy & Operations team, responsible for setting and driving post-purchase operations strategy. The ideal candidate will partner with Product, Engineering, and Operations to deliver scalable, high-quality user experiences, translate data insights into actionable roadmaps, and lead cross-functional initiatives. This role requires 7-10 years of experience in strategy and operations, strong analytical judgment, process design skills, and excellent stakeholder management. Proficiency in SQL and analytics platforms is a plus, as is a deep understanding of the Japanese market. The position is hybrid, requiring the candidate to live within commuting distance of the Tokyo hub.
## **🚀 Join the Future of Commerce with Whatnot!**
Whatnot is the largest live shopping platform in North America and Europe to buy, sell, and discover the things you love. Whether it's trading cards, fashion, electronics, or live plants, 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](https://www.whatnot.com/careers#principles) 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.
We're one of the [fastest growing marketplaces](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/business/dealbook/whatnot-livestream-shopping-fundraise.html) and were recently named the [#1 Best Startup Employer in America](https://www.forbes.com/lists/americas-best-startup-employers/) by Forbes. Check out the latest Whatnot updates on our [news](https://blog.teamwhatnot.com/) and [engineering blogs](https://medium.com/whatnot-engineering) and join us as we enable anyone to turn their passion into a business and bring people together through commerce.
## 💻 Role
The Commerce Strategy & Operations team drives business decisions across our entire marketplace ecosystem, including buyer experience, seller experience, trust & risk, fraud, logistics and payments. This is the first such hire in Japan. In this role, you will:
- Set and drive the strategy for post-purchase operations, partnering closely with Product, Engineering, and Operations to deliver scalable, high-quality experiences for Whatnot’s Japanese users
- Translate insights from operational data and user interactions into priorities, roadmaps, and initiatives that improve quality, speed, and scalability
- Partner with the Global Commerce team to implement changes that improve the overall user experience. Own the execution end to end
- Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from problem definition through execution, ensuring alignment, accountability, and measurable outcomes
- Design and implement scalable processes, systems, and operating models that support Whatnot’s growth and evolving user needs
- Serve as a strategic thought partner & Japan representative to senior leaders, providing data-driven recommendations and tradeoffs to inform decision-making
- Continuously assess operational performance, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, resilience, and user experience
**We offer flexibility to work from home or from one of our global office hubs, and we value in-person time for planning, problem-solving, and connection. Team members in this role must live within commuting distance of our Tokyo hub.**
## 👋 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 Commerce Strategy & Operations team member, you should have 7 - 10 years of experience in strategy and operations roles (e.g., consulting, finance, GM, Operations), plus:
- Proven experience developing and executing strategies that drive scalable, high-quality operations in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
- Strong analytical judgment, with the ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative insights into clear recommendations and decisions
- Demonstrated success leading large, cross-functional initiatives from concept through execution
- Ability to identify operational inefficiencies and design scalable processes, systems, and operating models to support long-term growth
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across Product, Engineering, Operations, and senior leadership
- Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools; experience with SQL and analytics platforms (e.g., Looker, Sigma, Hex) is a plus
- A real understanding of the nuances of the Japanese market
## **🎁 Benefits**
- Generous Holiday and Time off Policy
- Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision
- Work From Home Support
- Care benefits
- 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
**Please note: Whatnot will only contact you through official @whatnot.com email addresses. If you see an email impersonating a Whatnot recruiter, please disregard and report it as spam.**
## **💛 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.
Whatnot is the largest live shopping platform in North America and Europe to buy, sell, and discover the things you love. Whether it's trading cards, fashion, electronics, or live plants, 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](https://www.whatnot.com/careers#principles) 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.
We're one of the [fastest growing marketplaces](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/business/dealbook/whatnot-livestream-shopping-fundraise.html) and were recently named the [#1 Best Startup Employer in America](https://www.forbes.com/lists/americas-best-startup-employers/) by Forbes. Check out the latest Whatnot updates on our [news](https://blog.teamwhatnot.com/) and [engineering blogs](https://medium.com/whatnot-engineering) and join us as we enable anyone to turn their passion into a business and bring people together through commerce.
## 💻 Role
The Commerce Strategy & Operations team drives business decisions across our entire marketplace ecosystem, including buyer experience, seller experience, trust & risk, fraud, logistics and payments. This is the first such hire in Japan. In this role, you will:
- Set and drive the strategy for post-purchase operations, partnering closely with Product, Engineering, and Operations to deliver scalable, high-quality experiences for Whatnot’s Japanese users
- Translate insights from operational data and user interactions into priorities, roadmaps, and initiatives that improve quality, speed, and scalability
- Partner with the Global Commerce team to implement changes that improve the overall user experience. Own the execution end to end
- Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from problem definition through execution, ensuring alignment, accountability, and measurable outcomes
- Design and implement scalable processes, systems, and operating models that support Whatnot’s growth and evolving user needs
- Serve as a strategic thought partner & Japan representative to senior leaders, providing data-driven recommendations and tradeoffs to inform decision-making
- Continuously assess operational performance, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, resilience, and user experience
**We offer flexibility to work from home or from one of our global office hubs, and we value in-person time for planning, problem-solving, and connection. Team members in this role must live within commuting distance of our Tokyo hub.**
## 👋 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 Commerce Strategy & Operations team member, you should have 7 - 10 years of experience in strategy and operations roles (e.g., consulting, finance, GM, Operations), plus:
- Proven experience developing and executing strategies that drive scalable, high-quality operations in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
- Strong analytical judgment, with the ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative insights into clear recommendations and decisions
- Demonstrated success leading large, cross-functional initiatives from concept through execution
- Ability to identify operational inefficiencies and design scalable processes, systems, and operating models to support long-term growth
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across Product, Engineering, Operations, and senior leadership
- Proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools; experience with SQL and analytics platforms (e.g., Looker, Sigma, Hex) is a plus
- A real understanding of the nuances of the Japanese market
## **🎁 Benefits**
- Generous Holiday and Time off Policy
- Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision
- Work From Home Support
- Care benefits
- 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
**Please note: Whatnot will only contact you through official @whatnot.com email addresses. If you see an email impersonating a Whatnot recruiter, please disregard and report it as spam.**
## **💛 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.
