The council may appoint a nonstate service executive director, herein called director, who shall be competent and qualified in the area of marketing and agriculture and who may receive as compensation for services an annual salary as set by the council, but not to exceed the annual salary of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. The director shall be the one-point information contact on agricultural production, management and marketing issues and shall be charged with the duty of knowing the role and responsible personnel in each agency on matters related to agriculture. The director, or a staff member as designated by the council, shall be directly responsible to the council for tasks assigned in the administration and implementation of programs developed by the council. The council may also employ such nonstate staff as necessary to perform the objectives of the council, whose salary shall be set by the council but not to exceed an amount recommended by the State Personnel Board.