Lida Jacob had a long and illustrious career in the Indian Administrative Service, holding various senior government and public sector positions such as District Collector, Director of Public Instruction, Managing Director of the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (MILMA), Managing Director of Kerala Financial Corporation, and Secretary to Government in General Education, Housing, Social Welfare, Health, and Public Works Departments.

After retirement, she held various positions such as Advisor for Gender and Child Protection, for imparting training on Protection of Women from Domestic Violence, Commission for Right to Education Act, Committee to draft the Nirbhaya Policy for Protection of Women and Children from Sexual Violence and Trafficking and similar assignments. At present, she is the chairperson of the All-Kerala Blood Donors Society and the President of Kerala Association of Professional Social Workers.