Career stories

Infra’s trump cards are versatility and many opportunities

Juho Toivonen has had time to work in several positions at Infra during his career, which began in the spring of -22 with a construction services work supervision internship.

– The expertise I have gained from Infra is exceptional. When I started as a construction supervision trainee, I received a really comprehensive orientation from my site manager. He emphasized the importance of profitability, let me make decisions and taught me that decisions must be justified. Those lessons have gone a long way.

At the end of the work supervision internship, Juho was selected as a logistics engineer for circular economy services and after a year and a half, Juho moved to construction engineer for pavement services. He started his current position as a work supervisor for environmental services at the end of -24. Juho is responsible for the circular economy, pavement services and landscape services, i.e. forests and trees, as well as excavation and stormwater.

– I have benefited from having had extensive contact with different people. I also feel that my previous positions, initially as a construction management trainee and then as a logistics engineer and construction engineer, have brought many perspectives to my work. I am an infrastructure engineer by education and I am studying information management at the University of Tampere, although my studies are currently on a break.

– The most important task of a work manager is to ensure that the people they manage have jobs now and in the future. In addition, a vision of what their own unit will be like in a year and five years is needed. Although each work manager at Infra has their own area of ​​responsibility, cooperation is close, issues are communicated and colleagues are helped.

– The work manager is responsible for contracts. Making contracts and cooperating with the customer and partners takes time. When making contracts, you have to rely on the professionalism of many colleagues, for example in terms of procurement. At Infra, it is easy, though, when the level of expertise is high.

– I think the best part of the job is that I get to make decisions. It is also important to be able to influence your environment in some way and to be able to leave your own mark.

– Infra’s trump card is versatility – the seasonal nature of the work means that there are completely different tasks in winter than in summer – for example, freezing ice rinks in winter and asphalting in summer.

Jussi ended up in the infrastructure sector by accident

Construction site manager Jussi Suominen jumped straight from infrastructure construction worker to construction site manager – and enjoys the independence of the job

– I had to come up with something after the army, so I went to Paimio parish to take care of cemeteries, recalls Jussi.

The sector began to interest Jussi and he completed a basic qualification in horticulture in Livia. During his studies, he gained professional skills in yard construction repair work and tree care and pruning. After getting a permanent position as an infrastructure construction worker at a construction company, Jussi decided to apply to Lepaa University of Applied Sciences by chance – and surprisingly got in. While working as a foreman for green services during the summers alongside his studies, Jussi got to know Tampere, when the whole city was a work area.

– After that, I ended up at Infra as an infrastructure construction worker, but already in the recruitment interview I expressed my interest in more challenging tasks. Pretty soon, Infra was looking for a replacement for a maintenance site manager on family leave for a year, and I was selected for the position. After a year of work, I switched back to construction services to succeed a retiring site manager. I thought it might be challenging to act as a supervisor for former colleagues, but everything went really smoothly and both colleagues and contractors reacted well to my role change.

– The work of a site manager is very independent, you can organize and prioritize your work in the way you see fit. Mobility and variety are definitely positive aspects of the job. The seasonal nature of the work is characteristic of the construction industry, spring and early summer are usually really busy, mid-summer is quieter, and September-October is really busy before the ground freezes. During the high season, there is a lot of work and workload, but during the quieter times, there is time for development.

– I try to visit the construction site every day to meet my employees, preferably in the mornings, and roughly speaking, half of my working time during the week is spent on various meetings, a quarter on matters coming from the construction sites, and the rest on handling emails. Combining work and free time is effective when flexible working hours are in use. I also take advantage of the possibility of working remotely when there are things on my desk that require concentration. The best part of my job is that I can organize it the way I see fit.

Tiia Helvilä – landscape designer

Tiia, who qualified as a landscape designer in 2013, began her career with the City of Tampere in 2016 at the Hatanpää municipal nursery. For four years, she worked at the nursery during the peak season, cultivating bedding plants, while spending the rest of the year on forestry work, winter tree planting, and construction sites. Her tree-planting duties also included leading the work team.

Tiia has gained diverse experience across nearly all business areas within the Infrastructure unit. In addition to maintenance and construction work, she has served as an assistant and substitute for the traffic sign unit supervisor and filled in as the stone depot supervisor for six months. She has held her current position as a landscape designer – focusing on client management and production support – since the beginning of 2023.

– I enjoyed the physical, outdoor work, but indoor work has its own advantages. Now, I also do more work that aligns with my professional training. My current role involves designing daycare and school grounds as well as playgrounds. Some of these are ‘design-build’ projects, where we handle both the design and construction ourselves.

Daycare playgrounds are projects Tiia particularly enjoys.

– The most rewarding part is designing a better living environment for children -something beyond just plastic surfacing and a couple of swings. Nature-based solutions are trending right now; we’re incorporating natural elements like logs, pine cone mulch, and wood chips into playgrounds and outdoor areas – it’s almost like stepping back a few decades, Tiia describes.

Her work also includes supervising landscaping projects, where she acts as the client’s representative, ensuring quality, adherence to schedules, and compliance with contracts. Her diverse background in infrastructure work provides a valuable, comprehensive perspective that clearly benefits her current role.

– My work requires a great deal of self-direction, and the variety of tasks is a definite plus. Site visits are always useful, and the option for remote work and flexible hours adds flexibility to daily life. Opportunities for further training depend on my own initiative, and my suggestions have always been well-received by my employer.

In late summer 2025, Tiia returned to work after family leave.

– It was wonderful being at home, but it was also really nice to return to work. The transition back was smooth, as we have the option to work reduced hours – something I took advantage of initially. I feel we have a great working atmosphere, and I really enjoy my job.

Looking ahead, Tiia also sees Infra from a completely new perspective in her role as an employee representative on the Infra board.

– I hope to convey the staff’s views to the board and play a part in making our operations even better.

At Infra, skills and motivation drive progress

Working foreman Taru Palmi began her career at Infra as a seasonal worker, just as many others currently in permanent roles at the company have done. Taru graduated as a horticulturist in Oulu in 2016 and moved to Tampere the following year. She worked in infrastructure construction from the spring through December of that year, and after spending the winter elsewhere, she returned in the spring as a seasonal worker once again.

– Then, the recruitment process for a permanent infrastructure construction worker began – and I didn’t hesitate for a moment to apply – and I was selected for the role. My first winter was spent on maintenance work, specifically flooding sports fields to create ice – a task many infrastructure construction workers take on during the winter months. After that, I spent my winters planting trees. In the summer, we built parks as well as playgrounds for daycares and schools. Working in landscaping allowed me to put my horticultural training to good use.

– At the beginning of 2024, I moved entirely to the tree care unit, and my title changed to Nursery Supervisor. I was responsible for nursery operations and the nursery registry, and I participated in tasks such as lifting and planting trees, controlling invasive species, root care, winter protection, weeding, and removing supports and watering basins. Last spring, I was appointed as a working supervisor, and my role shifted to focus more on office-based tasks.

Taru and tree specialist Piritta Karru work closely together as a team. Taru fills in for Piritta during holidays and participates in planning, invoicing, organizing orders, and tasks related to both forestry and tree care.

– I enjoy the variety in my work. I get to experience and perform a wide range of tasks and have a say in how I work. The team at Infra is great; the atmosphere is positive, and employees’ wishes are listened to. My collaboration with Piritta works seamlessly, which is fantastic. I also appreciate the opportunities for professional development and growth – though, if you’re happy in your current role, there’s no pressure to move on; you can simply keep doing what you’re good at and what you enjoy. I’m open to new things, but right now I have no desire to go anywhere else – I really enjoy my current role.