California Code, Government Code - GOV § 18546

“Career executive” means an employee appointed from an employment list established for the express purpose of providing a list of persons who are eligible for career executive assignments, as specified in Article 5 (commencing with Section 18990) of Chapter 4 and Article 9 (commencing with Section 19889) of Chapter 2.5 of Part 2.6, in which examination, selection, classification, salary, tenure, and other conditions of employment may be varied from those prevailing under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 18800) to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 19570), inclusive, for other employees in the state civil service.