Subject to the rules of the director of mental health and addiction services, each institution under the jurisdiction of the department shall be under the management and control of a managing officer to be known as a chief executive officer or by another appropriate title. Such managing officer shall be appointed by the director of mental health and addiction services, and shall be in the unclassified service and serve at the pleasure of the director. Each managing officer shall be of good moral character and have skill, ability, and experience in the managing officer's profession.
The managing officer, under the director, shall serve as the appointing authority of the institution to which such managing officer is appointed. Subject to civil service rules, the managing officer shall have the power to appoint and remove employees of the institution. On behalf of the institution, the managing officer has the authority and responsibility for entering into contracts and other agreements for the efficient operations of the institution.
R.C. § 5119.05