A Cocoa Pods developer manages dependencies or libraries in projects built on the iOS development platform. They ensure seamless integration of third-party libraries into an iOS project. They handle the installation, updating, and removal of libraries, making the development process smoother and more efficient. They also deal with version conflicts and ensure the project has the latest, most compatible versions of libraries. They use the Cocoa Pods dependency manager, which simplifies tasks and reduces the chances of errors. The Cocoa Pods developer's role is crucial to maintaining the project's stability and improving its functionality and performance.