Erlan Sagadiev served as minister of education and science of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2016–19. As minister, he oversaw the state authority responsible for education, science, and the protection of children’s rights and youth policy. He also served as vice minister of investment and development, vice minister of industry and new technologies, and advisor to the prime minister.

Before his government service, Sagadiev was president of the University of International Business and the International University of Information Technology.

From 1995 to 2004, he was the founder and president of FoodMaster Company, which became a leading dairy company in Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Moldova.