Mo. Rev. Stat. § 620.460: Director, qualifications, compensation — staff, compensation — employed under merit system.

1. The commission shall employ a staff headed by a director of tourism who shall be qualified by education and experience in public administration with a background in the use of the various news media as to the dissemination of public information to promote tourism. The director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, and the commission shall fix his compensation within the appropriation made for the purpose.

2. The director of tourism shall by and with the consent of the commission employ a staff composed of such professional, technical and clerical personnel as necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 620.450 to 620.465 and set their compensation within the appropriation made for that purpose.

3. All members of the staff except the director shall be employed under the provisions of the state merit system law.