The director serves as the senior space science adviser to the President of Russia.

They represent Roscosmos to the Presidential Administration, State Duma, heads of federal and other appropriate government agencies, international organizations, and external organizations and communities.

They also oversee the day-to-day work of Roscosmos’ functional offices.

The first director was Yuri Koptev; who led the agency during a financial crisis, and established tourist flights to space, and was also the longest-running director, who held the post from 1992 to 2004.

The current director Dmitry Bakanov, was appointed by President Vladimir Putin on 6 February 2025.