On the local level Sundsbø was a member of Frognmunicipal council from 1975 to 1983, serving the last four years as deputy mayor.[1]
Outside politics he graduated from the Norwegian College of Agriculture in 1969, and worked until 1976 as a research fellow and researcher. From 1986 to 1992 he was director of the Norges landbruksvitenskapelige forskningsråd. When it was merged to become the Research Council of Norway, Sundsbø served as CEO there from 1992 to 1994.[1] He edged out applicants such as Knut Grøholt, Rolf Skår, Hugo Parr and seven others.[2]