Head of Research & Development

The YouVersion Head of Research and Development (R&D) is primarily responsible for driving innovation and excellence as a visionary leader to YouVersion. This role involves overseeing the research, development, and product proof of concepts to enhance user engagement and satisfaction. The Head of R&D will take direction from the Chief Product Officer and then collaborate closely with the Chief Technology Officer, Product Managers, and Engineering and Architecture teams to ensure the family of YouVersion apps remains a leading platform for spiritual growth and biblical study. The Research & Development team will primarily focus on engaging ahead of the Product and Engineering roadmap to maximize efforts, accelerate team velocity, and improve product decisions. The YouVersion Team Leader is responsible for casting vision, providing direction, and leading ministry efforts within their teams to outcomes that further the Life.Church’s mission and reach people for Christ

YouVersion was created by the local church in 2007 and remains a ministry of Life.Church today. At Life.Church, our mission is to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Our team is committed to reaching people worldwide through innovative technology. And YouVersion is one of the ways we get to do that. Life.Church is a multi-site Christian church meeting in the United States and globally at Life.Church Online.

We wholeheartedly believe a daily rhythm of seeking intimacy with God has the power to transform lives. That’s why YouVersion creates biblically-based experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God. We hope everyone in our community is on an active journey to become who God made them to be, abiding in Him, and drawing closer every day.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute the R&D strategy centered around the vision and goals for the YouVersion team.
• Lead and mentor a team of researchers, developers, and engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with the CPO and senior leadership to identify and prioritize new features, improvements, and technological advancements, focusing within a 12-month and beyond horizon.
• Work closely with Product Managers and appropriate teams to understand the requirements and specifications for each initiative.
• Ensure that R&D initiatives are aligned with the product roadmap and organization objectives.
• Oversee the end-to-end R&D process, from concept to research delivery, ensuring high-quality and maximum value is delivered to the appropriate teams.
• Serve as a key liaison between the R&D team, product managers, and engineering teams to ensure seamless communication and collaboration.
• Present R&D findings, progress, and outcomes to the CPO and other senior leaders.
• Foster strong relationships with external partners, researchers, and technology providers to leverage additional expertise and resources.
• Foster a culture of innovation within the R&D team, encouraging creative thinking and experimentation.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends, exploring their potential applications within the YouVersion teams.
• Initiate and oversee exploratory projects and pilot programs to test new ideas and concepts, with a focus on enhancing user engagement, spiritual growth and other areas that will advance our mission.
• Evaluate and implement innovative tools and methodologies to optimize the R&D process and accelerate product development cycles.

Skills Needed to Succeed

• Ability to think strategically and translate vision into actionable plans.
• Ability to self-motivate, make independent decisions, and solve problems with innovation.
• Effective at multi-tasking and time management to meet strict deadlines while remaining flexible and open to change.
• Excellent verbal, written, and oral communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and lead cross-functional teams and foster relationships.
• Effective at process and organizational management to coordinate, structure, and provide vision to projects.
• Strong leadership skills and understanding of developing and guiding others.
• Passion for the mission of YouVersion and a deep understanding of the Bible and its significance to users.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; Advanced degree preferred.
• 3–5 years of related work experience.
• Proven experience in an R&D leadership role in the software or tech industry.
• Proven successful project management experience with a track record of delivering complex projects timely and within budget.
• Strong understanding of mobile app development, particularly in iOS and Android environments.

Benefits We Offer

- Paid parental leave, including maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.

- Generous employer-paid leave for the use of vacation, sick time, and other qualifying reasons.

- Innovative and comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance that provides team members with useful resources and savings to navigate their holistic health.

- Life insurance policy provided for all staff members at 2x annual salary at no cost. Additional life insurance coverage is available to purchase.

- Short-Term and Long-Term disability is covered at 100% for full-time qualified staff members.

- Comprehensive wellness and mental health benefits allow staff to proactively invest in their physical and emotional health.

- Generous 401(k) retirement plan allowing a team member to have up to 12.5% (including employee contribution, employer match, and employer discretionary contribution) contributed into their account in their first year. It doesn’t stop there—the more years on staff, the greater the investment!

-$160 annually in development dollars for team members to invest in their professional growth.

- Casual dress and work environment.

- And much more!

Our Beliefs, Culture, and Commitment to Diversity

At Life.Church, every staff member, and intern is a minister and is expected to engage in the church's ministry fully. We consider ministry readiness and an individual’s capacity to represent Life.Church’s beliefs as a minister during the selection process for all staff and intern positions. An essential function within every position held by a staff member or intern at Life.Church is to uphold and represent the beliefs of Life.Church. Learn more about what we believe at Life.Church.

While we unite around our mission, we know unity doesn’t mean uniformity. Our calling is too great, and our mission is too important not to be intentional about strengthening our team through diversity. We know that diverse perspectives in race, ethnicity, background, age, and gender are essential to reaching the world for Christ. To learn more about how we strengthen our team through diversity, visit our careers page.

All data collected in our application process, from resume collection to application questions, is used for recruitment purposes only.