§ 653. Powers and duties. The director shall assist the governor with regard to relations between the state and its employees. Such assistance may include acting as the governor's agent in discharging the powers and duties conferred on the governor by the public employees' fair employment act, as amended, including, without limitation, conducting collective negotiations with recognized or certified employee organizations and executing agreements reached pursuant thereto. The director shall have such other and further powers and duties as may from time to time be conferred upon him by law and as the governor may from time to time request. Nothing contained herein shall be interpreted to enlarge, diminish or otherwise change any power or duty of the governor or legislature under said act or otherwise.