Jutta Takala appointed as Director of Human Resources at the City of Espoo

Takala has worked for the City of Espoo since 2002: first in the Growth and Learning Sector in Finnish-language Education as the manager of teachers’ employment relationships, and later in Personnel Services in various positions, such as Recruitment Manager and Service Manager at HR-neuvomo. Since 2017, she has worked as the Director of Personnel Services, a unit largely responsible for the provision of the city’s operational personnel services.

“The level of the applicants was high. Jutta has the leadership skills that are necessary for directing operations, finances and personnel within such a large municipal organisation. Jutta’s motivation and attitude towards the position of HR Director, as well as her well-founded views on carrying out the tasks in the position, further developing her work and cooperating with stakeholders will help her succeed in the position.” Mayor Jukka Mäkelä says.

The Personnel Unit of the Mayor’s Office is in charge of human resource management, the HR management operating model, occupational health care and centralised HR management services, as well as preparing the human resources steering group. Furthermore, the Personnel Unit is also responsible for the HR services of the Mayor’s Office’s units and the Vitality Unit.

“I am grateful for the confidence and am looking forward to making a real impact on the city’s development from the perspective of HR management. My goal is to ensure that HR supports the City of Espoo management, supervisors and personnel in providing services in the best possible way. We must also work together to find solutions to challenges,” Jutta Takala says.

The position of Director of Human Resources was available in early 2022, and 21 applications were received within the deadline.