Lida Jacob joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1978. She has served as the Additional Secretary (Land Revenue), Director of Rehabilitation and Deputy Secretary (Labour Dept.), Director, Kerala Urban Development Project (World Bank aided) & Joint Secretary (Local Admn. Dept.) She was the  Collector & District Magistrate, Kollam from 1992-94.She has also served as the Managing Director, MILMA & Diary Development Commissioner, Director of Public Instruction, Trivandrum, Managing Director, Kerala Financial Corporation, Trivandrum and Secretary, department of General Education, Government of Kerala.