James has over fifteen years'​ experience working in the charity and education sectors, and is now CEO of the social mobility foundation The Sutton Trust.

Previous to his current role, James was Deputy CEO of the Education Endowment Foundation, the What Works Centre for Education in England, overseeing a period of considerable growth. James led the successful bid for the £135m Education Endowment Foundation back in 2011, and undertook the role of interim CEO, setting up the new charity's infrastructure and grant-making processes.

James has developed a number of partnerships with UK foundations, universities and corporate partners, leveraging hundreds of thousands of pounds, and developing a range of new educational access programmes reaching thousands of young people each year.

James is also a trustee of the education charity The Brilliant Club and serves as a governor of a comprehensive school in the East Midlands.