After the county board has adopted the resolution authorized in section 383D.21, it shall promptly appoint an employee relations director or assign the function of employee relations director to an existing officer or employee. If Dakota county elects to operate under an optional form of government pursuant to sections 375A.01 to 375A.13, the authority to appoint the employee relations director shall be the same as for the appointment of other department heads. The terms and conditions of employment of the person appointed as director or assigned the function of director shall be established by the county board.