The role of a scrum master in agile development is to facilitate the scrum process while ensuring that the team adheres to scrum principles. The scrum master acts as a servant leader, guiding the team by removing impediments, fostering collaboration, and helping to manage the sprint planning and review processes. They also serve as a liaison between the team and stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and alignment on project goals. Ultimately, the scrum master's focus is on enabling the team to be more productive and deliver high-quality products efficiently.