Born in
Hualpén, Jara made his professional debut in 2003 for
Huachipato, where he played until his 2007 transfer to
Colo-Colo. Colo-Colo agreed to transfer him to English
Championship team
West Bromwich Albion for a fee of $3 million in August 2009, but the buying club chose not to proceed with the deal. However, they later resurrected the deal and Jara signed for Albion for a fee of £1.4 million on a three-year contract on 25 August 2009. He scored his first goal for West Brom in a 2–1 away win against
Leicester City on 7 November 2009. His second came against
Arsenal on 25 September 2010, scoring in a 3–2 victory for West Brom at the
Emirates Stadium. On 21 October 2011, Jara joined Championship side
Brighton & Hove Albion on a loan deal initially lasting until January 2012. However, on 20 December 2011, West Brom recalled him and two other players also on loan at other clubs due to an injury crisis. Jara returned to Brighton & Hove Albion on a loan deal lasting until the end of the season on 31 January 2012. He joined another Championship side,
Nottingham Forest, on loan until the end of the season on 10 January 2013. On 19 June, after his release from West Bromwich, he joined Forest on a permanent one-year deal. He was one of seven players released from the club on 27 May 2014. On 16 July 2014, he was given a two-year contract with an option for a third year by
Mainz 05. On 16 January 2016, he agreed to terminate his contract with them. Back in Chile, Jara joined
Unión La Calera in September 2021. The next year, he switched to
Coquimbo Unido, his last club until December 2023. ==International career==