Zhang Jiandong was born in July 1962 in Laoting county, Hebei province. He joined the Communist Party of China in December 1982 and started his career in August 1983.
He graduated from Beijing Normal University (as an on-the-job postgraduate student) with a doctorate degree in management.
On Nov 2, 2014 he was elected vice-mayor of Beijing at the 14th session of the 14th Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress.
The previous leadership positions Zhang Jiandong held included: deputy secretary and then secretary of the Beijing Institute of Technology's youth league committee, deputy Party secretary of Capital Normal University, a member of the Education Working Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and deputy director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing Municipal Government.
In Beijing’s Xicheng district, he served as deputy secretary of the Xicheng district committee of the CPC; deputy district chief and then chief.
In Beijing’s Huairou district, he served as secretary of the Huairou district committee of the CPC, and a member of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee.
In February, 2013, he served as Party secretary and director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform.