Hu got involved in politics in December 2004, when he became an official of the Organization Department of the CCP Shandong Provincial Committee. He moved up the ranks to become deputy head in February 2009 and executive deputy head in March 2013. He also served as deputy party secretary of the State owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shandong from October 2011 to July 2014. He was appointed secretary-general of the CCP Shandong Provincial Committee in June 2017 and was admitted to member of the Standing Committee of the CCP Shandong Provincial Committee, the province's top authority.[2]
In September 2017, he was transferred to southwest China's Chongqing city, where he was a member of the Standing Committee of the CCP Chongqing Municipal Committee and head of the Organization Department.[3]
In December 2020, he was assigned to the similar position in east China's Shanghai city.[4]