The board shall employ an executive director who will serve at the will of the board. The executive director shall be the administrator of the board office and shall employ the staff necessary to conduct the activities of the board. The executive director shall also be responsible for the operation of the agency in accordance with board policy, state and federal law, and duties established by the board. The executive director is empowered to make preliminary interpretations of the Act or of this title, except that any interpretation by the executive director shall not be binding upon the board. The executive director is the custodian of the board's records.