Maple Grove Hires a New Human Resources Director

The city of Maple Grove has a new Human Resources Director with a forward thinking approach to employee management.

Maple Grove native Krista Guzman came to the city in June with nearly a decade of human resources experience. Since that time, she’s been working on a list of the department’s top priorities.

“The first one is really looking at leader and manager effectiveness. What type of training can we provide to the organization so that our leaders are set up for success, and what is next in the landscape for the work that we have,” stated Guzman.

One way the city is looking ahead is by making policy changes that reflect the evolving needs of the workforce.

“We have recently implemented a remote work policy for the organization which allows employees to work from a different environment for a certain number of days a week so that we can provide flexibility to our workforce,” explained Guzman.

She said not every employee is eligible for remote work, and the ones that are have to follow an approval process. 

Maple Grove Police Commander Adam Lindquist and Human Resources Director Krista Guzman

Also high on Guzman’s list of priorities is how to best recruit and retain top talent.

“One of the things we’re doing now as an organization is a classification and compensation study. It’s really looking at how can we set up our compensation structure to be the most marketable across other organizations we are peers to,” stated Guzman.

Maple Grove Boasts High Employee Retention Rate 

The city has a historically high retention rate, with city workers staying an average of ten years.

“Maple Grove is sort of unique because we have such commitment in our employees that we don’t see a whole lot of turnover,” explained Guzman. “However, there are usually some really great opportunities, either internally for employees to grow within the organization, or we look for external opportunities if we don’t have internal talent.”

The city’s website lists current job postings, which include several seasonal positions as well as two officer openings at the Maple Grove Police Department.

Guzman said one highlight of working for the city is the importance they put on employee well-being. Workers are encouraged to take part in individual and team activities that promote better health, which can earn them two free days off of work.

“Our wellness program here in Maple Grove is amazing and has gotten awards year after year,” said Guzman. “I think it’s just really great opportunity for employees to be involved with each other from all different departments across the city.”

To learn more about the city’s job openings, visit their website. 

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