Han er utdannet siviløkonom fra NHH med vekt på markedsføring, kommunikasjon og organisasjonsutvikling. Han har erfaring som konsulent og prosjektleder og er tidligere partner i Unison, et kultur- og arrangementsproduksjonsselskap. Tolden var også den første administrerende direktør i Norsk publikumsutvikling.
Harm-Christian Tolden currently holds the position as Director General of the Department of Culture, Voluntary Sector and Inclusion at the City of Bergen. He has his educational background from the Norwegian School of Economics with an emphasis on marketing, communication and organizational development. He has worked as an independent consultant and project manager and is a former partner of Unison, a culture and event production company. Tolden was also the first managing director of Audiences Norway.