Jakub Skalník studied analytical chemistry at Charles University.

From 1990 to 1994, he served as deputy mayor and for the next four years as mayor of Polička in the Svitavy region.

In 1999, he joined the diplomatic service, working in the minister's cabinet, and his first posting was at the embassy in Washington, D.C. He subsequently worked as the director of the Americas Department. His next diplomatic assignment was as deputy ambassador in the Netherlands. Upon returning to Prague, he worked in the Northern and Eastern Europe Department. He was appointed Czech Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015, and before his current posting, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the head of the Western Mediterranean Department.

He speaks English, French, Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian.

He is married and has one son.