The chief executive officer of the department shall be the Director of Economic Development who shall be appointed by the Governor with the consent of a majority of the Legislature. The director shall administer the affairs of the department and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The director shall have equal rank with the heads of other state departments, and his or her salary shall be fixed by the Governor. The director shall employ a deputy director with significant and extensive professional experience in the field of economic development. The director shall employ division directors and such other assistants, professional staff, and other employees as he or she deems necessary to effectively carry out sections 81-1201.01 to 81-1201.20 within the appropriations the Legislature provides.