James started with Yorkshire Water as a graduate in 2003 and has held a range of Wastewater leadership roles spanning operational, technical and strategic disciplines. He has also led a number of large regulatory improvement programmes. Between 2017 and 2019 he spent time as a Management Consultant working more broadly across the sector where he developed a passion for Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement principles. He returned to YW in 2019 to develop the network operational strategy of the newly formed Wastewater Directorate. In September 2020 was appointed to the role of Head of Wastewater Asset Management.