 He served as a member of the City Council in 1997 - 2005 and became a member of the City Board in 1999.In 2003 he assumed the position of Chairman of the City Board, holding it until his appointment as City Manager of Helsinki.Before assuming his duties as City Manager of Helsinki, Jussi Pajunen worked as Managing Director and as Chairman of the Board of the family firm Edvard Pajunen Ltd.

With 40,000 employees, the City of Helsinki is the biggest employer in Finland.