The director shall have the powers of a head of a department pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11150) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The director may make the agreements that he or she deems necessary or appropriate in exercising his or her powers.
Source:
Section 1341.8, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1341.8..