tagsmanager.js

(function() {
  'use strict';

  angular.module('App').directive('tagsManager', function TagsManager() {
    return {
      restrict: 'A',
      scope: false,
      link: function (scope, element, attr) {
        var hiddenInput = ???;

        element.tagsManager();

        hiddenInput.on('change', function (e) {
          scope.$apply(function () {
            scope.tags = hiddenInput.val();
          });
        });
      }
    };
  });

})();

You sir, are a ninja. Thanks!