After obtaining his doctorate degree in political science, Nalbandian was sent first to Lebanon as a diplomat and then, in 1986, appointed First Secretary of the USSR Embassy in Egypt.

[5] Edward Nalbandian also served as non-resident Ambassador to Israel, the Vatican and Andorra,[6] and he was personal representative of the President of Armenia to the International organization of La Francophonie from 2006–2008.

[7] Edward Nalbandian represented Armenia in several dozens of international conferences and summits.

[8] After Serzh Sargsyan took office as president, he appointed Nalbandian as Foreign Minister from April 14, 2008, till May 2018.

[9][10] After leaving office, Nalbandian became a professor at the Department for Diplomatic Studies at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.