The director is head of the department. He shall serve on a full time basis and shall be a member of the classified civil service of the state and meet all requirements of the department of state civil service.
He shall designate the head of a division or some other employee of the department to act as head of the department in his absence or disability or in case of a vacancy, until the absence or disability is terminated or the vacancy filled. In default of such action, the governor may make the designation. While he is so acting, all the provisions of this Chapter which apply to the director apply to the person so designated.