Jakob Bjelland became State Secretary in the Ministry of Transport on 3 January 2022.

Prior to that, he was Head of Department in Sunnhordland Kraftlag, a producer of hydroelectric power. He has previously held leading positions in various companies within the supply industry, the maritime sector and the oil and gas industry. He has also worked in the defence industry in Norway. In the period 2015-2022, he was Deputy Mayor in Stord Municipality and Acting Mayor in periods. He was substitute member to the Storting 2009-2017 for the Centre Party. Bjelland is a graduate MSc in Physics and Mathematics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.