Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 23B, § 8: Employees; staff officers; appointment and removal

Section 8. The secretary shall appoint and may remove all employees in the executive office and its divisions and agencies. Unless otherwise provided by law, all such appointments and removals shall be made in accordance with chapter thirty-one. From time to time the secretary may, subject to appropriation and regulations pertaining to the employment of consultants, employ such consultants as the secretary may deem necessary.

In addition to undersecretaries, department and division heads, and bureau chiefs, the secretary may appoint an executive assistant, a chief counsel and experts on urban affairs, public information and intergovernmental relations, to serve in the executive office, and such other officers, experts and assistants as may be necessary to carry out the work of the office. Any person holding appointment under this paragraph shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one or section nine A of chapter thirty.