In 1802, after passing the necessary state exams at Freiberg, von Herder embarked on his professional career, taking a position as Mining Services Inspector ("Bergamtsassessor") with responsibilities covering the mines in Marienberg, Geyer, Ehrenfriedersdorf and Schneeberg. Promotion during the ensuring twenty years was unusually rapid. In 1804 he was returned to Freiberg as Senior Mining Services Assessor ("Oberhüttenamtsassessor"), which seems to have involved Mines Services Commissioner duties and wider oversight powers than before. Prussian and Austrian defeat in 1806 meant the removal of Prussian power from central Germany and an end to the Holy Roman empire, so there could be no longer any Electorate of Saxony: Saxony became instead a "kingdom", with imperial (i.e. French) backing. War and the associated international power shifts brought an increased emphasis on regulation and adherence. In 1810 von Herder was appointed to the Mines Council. In 1817 he was given a seat and a vote on the Saxon Privy Budget Council ("Geheim Finanzkollegium") and in 1821 on the Privy Mines Council ("Geheim Bergkollegium"). In 1819 he was appointed deputy to the government Mines Director ("Vizeberghauptmann") and in 1826 Mines Director ("Oberberghauptmann"), which was the highest position in the Saxon Mines Department.