After serving as Emon no kami (Captain gate guards) and Sangi (Councilor), Kiyohito was ranked as Shosanmi Chunagon (Senior Third Rank, Vice-Councilor of State) in 766, and he also served as Naiju-kyo (Head of the Bureau of Pages) in 767, Dainagon (Chief Councilor of State) in 768, and was raised to Junii (Junior Second Rank) in 769.
衛門督、参議を経て、天平神護2年（766年）には正三位中納言に列し、その後も神護景雲元年（767年）に内豎卿を兼ね、同2年（768年）大納言、同3年（769年）従二位と昇進した。