N.J. Stat. § 30:1AA-12

3. The administrator and chief executive officer of the office shall be the director, who shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. Subsequent to consultation with the Governor's Council on the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities, the Commissioner of Human Services shall appoint the director, who shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner during the commissioner's term of office and until the appointment and qualification of the director's successor. The director shall devote his entire time to the duties of his position and shall receive a salary commensurate with the responsibilities of the office. The director shall serve in the State unclassified service of the Civil Service. The director may appoint, retain or employ officers, experts or consultants on a contract basis or otherwise, which he deems necessary, and employ investigators or other professionally qualified personnel who shall be in the noncompetitive division of the career service of the Civil Service. L.1987, c.5, s.3; amended 2000, c.82, s.1; 2010, c.50, s.25.