Jakob Presečnik graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana in 1974.

He had worked for the Vegrad construction company in Velenje for 17 years, mostly as project designer and Head of the Planning Office. Following the floods of 1990 he was employed by the Mozirje Municipality as person in charge of eliminating the consequences of the flood, and for some time as President of the Municipal Executive Council. Between 1994 and 1998 he was Mayor of Mozirje. He was elected deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia in 1996. From 2000 to 2004 he held the office of Minister of Transport. In 2004 he was re-elected to the National Assembly.