The secretary shall establish three (3) divisions within the department of corrections. Each division head shall be designated as a deputy secretary of corrections and shall be within the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act. The secretary shall appoint each division head and such person shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. No person shall be eligible for appointment to, or hold the position of, deputy secretary of corrections unless such person shall have had at least five (5) years’ experience as an executive officer in the administration of federal or state penal or correctional institutions or five (5) years’ experience in the field of corrections, but three (3) years of such experience may be waived for an appointee having a degree from an accredited college or university, which degree is based on penology or a related field as a major field of study. Such person shall receive an annual salary to be fixed by the secretary with the approval of the state finance council.