Head of App Development

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'll work with a designer to create the UI/UX and then develop it with the developers to connect it to the backend of our bespoke system.Using API. We have a team of over 20 developers.

What You'll Be Doing

• Owning the technical strategy, development and roadmap for Releaf's native iOS and Android applications
• Leading the design and implementation of features built on Apple HealthKit and the Apple Health app, including reading, writing and visualising health data
• Integrating Apple Watch data — including activity, heart rate, sleep and other relevant metrics — into patient-facing features in a clear, intuitive UI
• Building equivalent health data experiences on Android using Health Connect and Wear OS, ensuring feature parity across platforms
• Working closely with Product, Design, Clinical and Data Protection teams to ensure features are clinically sound, intuitive, and fully compliant with healthcare data regulations
• Owning app performance, stability, release management and the end-to-end App Store / Google Play submission process
• Establishing engineering best practice across testing, CI/CD, code review and security for mobile
• Staying ahead of platform changes from Apple and Google — particularly around HealthKit, Health Connect, privacy frameworks and wearable APIs — and advising the business on their implications
• Contributing to the wider technology strategy as a senior member of the engineering leadership team

What We're Looking For

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 (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 — Health Connect and Wear OS — and experience building comparable cross-platform health features
• Portfolio of apps that we can test the UI and functionality.
• 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, or equivalent)
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate technical decisions for non-technical stakeholders

Desirable

• Experience in healthcare, digital health, or a regulated consumer product environment
• Familiarity with Swift/SwiftUI and Kotlin/Jetpack Compose at a technical depth sufficient to review architecture and code where needed
• 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) is a strong plus, though not required
• Experience working alongside clinical teams to validate the safety and accuracy of health-related features

We’re looking for someone who is excited to join a busy growing organisation - our team culture is based on support and respect and we take a proactive approach to employee progression and development. The ideal candidate for this role will be happy to roll their sleeves up and can take ownership of this role. In return, we offer flexible working; personalised training and development; private health insurance, Employee Assistance Programmes; access to employee perks and Releaf staff patient benefits. 

Our application process starts off with an informal remote meeting followed by a written test. We are an inclusive employer and would welcome applications from a diverse range of applicants; if there is anything we can do to help support you during the interview process, 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 able to do their best work. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences — and we're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process if you need them. If you'd like to discuss this, please don't hesitate to get in touch.