Zhang Haibo studied applied physics at the Department of Physics of Qingdao University from September 1987 to July 1991. After graduating, he worked as a political counselor in the Department of Foreign Languages at Qingdao University until 1993. He subsequently held several roles in the university’s Youth League Committee, advancing from deputy staff member to principal staff member. Between 1997 and 1998, he was assigned to the Qingdao Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League for organizational work.[2]
From 1999 to 2000, Zhang served as deputy secretary of the Youth League Committee of Qingdao University, before taking a concurrent post as deputy secretary of the CCP Zibo Municipal Committee of Zhangqiu (now part of Jinan) on a temporary assignment. In 2002, he became a division-level organization officer in the Organization Department of the Qingdao University Party Committee and again served in Zhangqiu in a concurrent capacity.[2]
Zhang was appointed deputy secretary of the CCP Zhangqiu Municipal Committee in December 2002 and later concurrently held the post of Party Secretary of the Minghua Economic Development Zone. In October 2006, he became deputy secretary and acting head of Jiyang County, Shandong, later serving as county magistrate until 2011.[3]
In 2011, Zhang became deputy secretary and head of Lixia District in Jinan. Beginning in 2012, he served as vice mayor of Jinan, and in 2017 he joined the Standing Committee of the CCP Jinan Municipal Committee while continuing to serve as vice mayor. Later in 2017, he was transferred to Weihai as deputy secretary of the CCP Weihai Municipal Committee, vice mayor, and acting mayor.[4] He became mayor in early 2018 and held the position until March 2020, when he was promoted to secretary of the CCP Weihai Municipal Committee, serving until June 2022.[5]
In June 2022, Zhang entered the provincial leadership as a member of the Standing Committee of the CCP Shandong Provincial Committee and secretary-general of the provincial committee, concurrently heading the Shandong Provincial Working Committee of Departments Directly Under the Provincial Government. He remained in these positions until March 2024.[6]
Since 2024, he has served as a member of the Standing Committee of the CCP Shandong Provincial Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the provincial government, Vice Governor of Shandong Province, Director of the Shandong Provincial Financial Affairs Office, and Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Financial Work Committee.[7]
Zhang has also been a delegate to the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.[8]