Jouanard began his career in the field of journalism, a profession he practiced from 1962 to 1965.

He then served as director for cultural and informational activities at the Théâtre National de la Criée [fr] in Marseille from 1975 to 1977.

Throughout his career, Jouanard lived in Dieburg, Avignon, Paris, Oran, Hamburg, Marseille, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, Montpellier, and Abbeville.

In Villeneuve, he founded a writers' residence in association with the Centre national du livre.

In 1986, he founded the Centre régional des lettres du Languedoc-Roussillon in Montpellier, which he directed for over 20 years.