There is hereby established within and as a part of the department of transportation a division of engineering and design, which shall be administered, under the supervision of the office of the secretary of transportation, by the director of engineering and design, who shall be the chief administrative officer of the division. The director of engineering and design shall be appointed by the secretary of transportation and shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The director of engineering and design shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act and shall receive an annual salary fixed by the secretary of transportation and approved by the governor.