W. Va. Code § 5B-2-5

(a) The executive director may employ economic development representatives to be paid a base salary within legislative appropriations to the division, subject to applicable contract provisions pursuant to §5B-2-4 of this code. Economic development representatives may receive performance-based incentives and expenses paid from private funds from a nonprofit corporation contracting with the division pursuant to §5B-2-4 of this code. The executive director shall establish job descriptions and responsibilities of economic development representatives, subject to the provisions of any contract with a nonprofit corporation entered into pursuant to §5B-2-4 of this code.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, economic development representatives employed within the division are not subject to the procedures and protections provided by §29-6-1 et seq . and §29-6A-1 et seq . of this code. Any employee of the division on the effective date of this article who applies for employment as an economic development representative is not entitled to the protections of §29-6-1 et seq . of this code with respect to hiring procedures and qualifications; and upon accepting employment as an economic development representative, the employee relinquishes the protections provided for in §6C-2-1 et seq . and §29-6-1 et seq . of this code.