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Head of App Development
Head of App Development at Releaf Dispensary Ltd
Releaf Dispensary Ltd is a pioneering medical cannabis clinic committed to providing high-quality, safe, and effective cannabis-based products. Headquartered in the UK, we aim to enhance the quality of life for our patients through cutting-edge solutions and outstanding patient service. We are a fast-growing team of passionate professionals on a mission to put patients back in control of their health journey—we have seen first-hand how alternative treatments can change lives.
About the Role
Releaf is looking for an experienced Head of App Development to lead the strategy, architecture, and delivery of our native iOS and Android applications. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who has built and scaled consumer-facing health or wellness apps, and who understands how to turn complex clinical and patient data into simple, trustworthy mobile experiences.
You will own our app roadmap end-to-end, from technical architecture through to App Store and Google Play release. A core part of this role is our use of health and wearable data: you will need deep, practical experience working with Apple HealthKit, the Apple Health app, and Apple Watch data, alongside equivalent experience on Android with Health Connect and Wear OS.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the mobile experience for a fast-growing healthcare business, working at the intersection of clinical care, patient engagement, and consumer-grade product design.
You will work with designers to create the UI/UX and then develop it with developers to connect it to our bespoke backend system, ensuring secure and effective functionality. We have a team of 20+ developers.
Responsibilities
- Own the technical strategy, development, and roadmap for Releaf’s native iOS and Android applications
- Lead the design and implementation of features built on Apple HealthKit and the Apple Health app, including reading, writing, and visualising health data
- Integrate Apple Watch data—including activity, heart rate, sleep, and other relevant metrics—into patient-facing features in a clear and intuitive UI
- Build equivalent health data experiences on Android using Health Connect and Wear OS, ensuring feature parity across platforms
- Work closely with Product, Design, Clinical, and Data Protection teams to ensure features are clinically sound, intuitive, and fully compliant with healthcare data regulations
- Oversee app performance, stability, and release management, as well as the App Store/Google Play submission process
- Establish engineering best practices, including testing, CI/CD, code review, and security, for mobile applications
- Stay ahead of platform changes from Apple and Google, particularly around HealthKit, Health Connect, privacy frameworks, and wearable APIs, advising the business on their implications
- Contribute to the wider technology strategy as a senior member of the engineering leadership team
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Requirements
Essential
- Proven experience leading native app development for both iOS and Android, ideally including time as a senior or lead engineer before moving into management
- Hands-on experience building features using Apple HealthKit and integrating with the Apple Health app
- Direct experience working with Apple Watch/health data (e.g., Apple HealthKit—reading and presenting metrics such as heart rate, activity rings, sleep, or workout data within a consumer app)
- Working knowledge of the Android equivalent stack (i.e., Health Connect and Wear OS) and experience building comparable cross-platform health features
- Portfolio of app(s) that demonstrate your UI and functionality for review
- Strong understanding of mobile UI/UX principles, particularly around presenting health data in a way that is clear, reassuring, and easy to act on
- Experience managing the full app lifecycle, including App Store and Google Play submission, review processes, and ongoing release management
- A track record of building, leading, and growing high-performing engineering teams
- Comfortable working in a regulated environment, with an understanding of data protection and patient privacy considerations (UK GDPR compliance)
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical decisions for non-technical stakeholders
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Desirable
- Experience in healthcare, digital health, or a regulated consumer product environment
- Technical depth in Swift/SwiftUI and Kotlin/Jetpack Compose, sufficient for architecture and code review
- Experience with remote patient monitoring, chronic condition management apps, or similar health-tracking products
- Exposure to clinical safety standards or medical device software regulations (e.g., UKCA/MHRA, IEC 62304)
- Experience working alongside clinical teams to validate the safety and accuracy of health-related features
About Releaf
We’re looking for someone who is excited to join a fast-growing organisation with a supportive, inclusive culture. At Releaf, our team culture is based on support, respect, and proactive progression. You’ll enjoy flexible working, personalised training and development, private health insurance, Employee Assistance Programmes, and access to Releaf’s employee perks. Additionally, eligible staff will be able to benefit from our Releaf staff patient programme.
Our application process begins with an informal remote meeting, followed by a written technical test.
We are an inclusive employer, welcoming applications from a diverse range of candidates. If there is anything we can do to support you during the recruitment process—such as accommodations—please let us know.
At Releaf, we believe that diverse teams build better businesses. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to perform their best. If you would like to discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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