Data Scientist, People Analytics

Whatnot; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 185,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Whatnot, a leading livestream shopping platform, is seeking a People Analytics Data Scientist to drive analytics strategies and empower talent decisions. In this role, you'll lead initiatives that enhance team development and retention, utilizing your expertise in data analysis and predictive modeling to influence organizational success.

Benefits

Flexible time off and company holidays

Health insurance options (Medical, Dental, Vision)

Work from home support

Care benefits (food, wellness, childcare)

Retirement plans (401k with employer match)

Monthly app testing allowance

Parental leave (16 weeks paid)

Qualifications

• Proven experience establishing and scaling a people analytics function.
• Strong technical skills in SQL, Python or R.
• Commitment to ethical data use and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute the comprehensive people analytics strategy.
• Build and maintain scalable data pipelines for analysis.
• Analyze data patterns and utilize predictive modeling.

Skills

Data Analytics

Predictive Modeling

SQL

Python

R

Communication

Critical Thinking

Education

6+ years in Data Analytics

Experience in People/HR Analytics

Tools

HRIS (Workday)

Tableau

Power BI

Looker

Job description

1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

Whatnot

Whatnot is the largest livestream shopping platform in North America and Europe to buy, sell, and discover the things you love. We're building the future of ecommerce, bringing together community, shopping, and entertainment. We are committed to our values, and as a remote co-located team, we operate out of hubs within the US, UK, Ireland, Poland, and Germany.

We're innovating in the fast-paced world of live auctions from fashion, beauty, electronics to collectibles like trading cards, comic books, and even live plants. Whatnot has something for everyone.

And, we're growing. Whatnot has been one of the fastest growing marketplaces and we're hiring forward-thinking problem solvers across all functional areas.

Role

We are seeking a dynamic People Analytics Data Scientist with a proven track record of success in building out and leading people analytics strategies and practices in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for a leader with expertise in driving the transformation of data into actionable insights to empower informed talent decisions, optimizing talent metrics that align with business objectives, and strengthening the analytical capabilities of the people team. This role combines strategic direction, first in role execution and hands-on expertise to ensure Whatnot finds and recruits top talent, improves team development and retention, and drives employee engagement.

The People Analytics Data Scientist will:

• Lead and execute the comprehensive people analytics strategy aligned with the organization's goals in partnership with the People team, business leaders, data scientists, and IT
• Build out the people analytics structure based on strong foundations, organizational efficiency, predictive insights, and prescriptive impacts with the overall goal of creating competitive advantages
• Develop and deliver (ongoing and ad hoc) dashboards, reports, and presentations that effectively communicate insights to managers, leaders, and stakeholders
• Build and maintain scalable data pipelines by integrating disparate data sources for analysis-ready formats and automated reporting/monitoring of org health metrics
• Analyze patterns in data and utilize predictive modeling to surface insights and forecast organizational needs to identify top talent, increase retention, and enhance company culture
• Collaborate with People Business Partners and senior leaders to understand operations, build cross-functional relationships, and translate data into actionable strategies
• Ensure data integrity, quality, and system alignment by partnering with Data Engineering, IT, and People Teams; support governance and access controls
• Identify, implement, and manage people analytics tools and platforms to meet organizational needs and facilitate self-service capabilities
• Drive communication and change management to promote analytics initiatives and data-driven processes
• Uphold responsible data use by maintaining privacy, ethical standards, and fairness in analytics initiatives

US Based Role:

Required to be within commuting distance of Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, or San Francisco hubs.

About You

We seek an intellectually curious, highly motivated leader to be a foundational member of our Data team. You thrive in ambiguous environments and enjoy building from scratch. You are a blend of data scientist, storyteller, and business partner, passionate about uncovering insights that inform better people decisions. You possess a strong technical foundation in people analytics and excel at translating data into narratives for leadership. You are hands-on, strategic, and able to balance tactical projects with broader goals.

As our first People Analytics Data Scientist, you will drive the scientific rigor of our workforce analytics strategy. You will work cross-functionally with People, Finance, and Business teams, as well as data science and engineering partners, to build frameworks that support talent attraction, retention, and development. You will serve as a technical authority on statistical methodology, predictive modeling, and workforce analytics, mentoring others and influencing organizational decisions.

You should have strong critical thinking, analytical skills, excellent communication, and a knack for influencing through data. Experience in collection, analysis, and interpretation of people data across the employee lifecycle is essential. You must be comfortable working quickly, balancing scientific rigor with practical needs, and making data-driven decisions in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements include:

• 6+ years in Data Analytics, with 3–6 years in People/HR Analytics or related fields, preferably in high-growth environments
• Proven experience establishing and scaling a people analytics function
• Strong technical skills in SQL, Python or R, with experience building ETL pipelines and integrating data from multiple sources
• Commitment to ethical data use, privacy, and confidentiality
• Experience with HRIS (preferably Workday), people platforms (e.g., OneModel, Ashby), and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker)
• Understanding of HR data and processes, including retention, engagement, talent acquisition, remote work, and workforce planning
• Familiarity with survey design and employee research is a plus
• Strong business acumen and ability to translate data into insights for strategic decisions
• Proven success working cross-functionally with leadership teams
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment

Compensation

For US-based applicants: $185,000–$240,000/year + benefits + equity. Final salary depends on experience, skills, and level.

Benefits

• Flexible time off and company holidays
• Health insurance options (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• Work from home support (home office setup, monthly allowances)
• Care benefits (food, wellness, childcare, family planning)
• Retirement plans (401k with employer match in US, pension internationally)
• Monthly app testing allowance
• Parental leave (16 weeks paid, gradual return)

EOE

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, valuing diversity and supporting an inclusive environment.