Nikzad was appointed governor of Ardabil Province in 2005. He then was the director of the municipalities organization at the ministry of interior until 2009. He served as the minister of transportation and housing from August 2009 to June 2011. He was also acting minister of roads and transportation from February to June 2011. As minister of housing, he replaced Mohammad Saeedikia after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reelected.