a. A director of a division in the department shall receive such salary as may be established by the commissioner with the approval of the Civil Service Commission and the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury.
b. In the event that a director is appointed from persons holding positions in the career service of the State, the director shall retain, during tenure in such position, any rights or protections provided to that person by Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes or any pension law or retirement system.