2027 Operations Development Associate

USB Ardent Mills LLC; United States; Remote; USD 65,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Health Savings Account

Dependent Savings Account

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Voluntary Benefits

Wellness programs

Retirement match

EAP

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Recognition program

Job summary

Ardent Mills is launching a 15-month Operations Development Program designed to develop future leaders in milling and ingredients. The program blends hands-on learning with leadership development, emphasizing safety, reliability, KPI monitoring, and staffing across facilities.

You will relocate to different Ardent Mills locations within the US as you progress, with a non-desk, hands-on role and rotating shifts. Strong leadership and interpersonal skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of leadership experience (preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Milling Science, Ag Studies, Business, Operations, Food Science, Biosystems Engineering, Mechanized Systems or related studies.

Responsibilities

• Lead others, ensuring personnel safety and food safety.
• Ensure equipment reliability through sound maintenance practices.
• Monitor KPIs and costs associated with production.
• Manage team members, their schedules and staffing.
• Relocate to other Ardent Mills facilities as skills grow.

Skills

Leadership capabilities

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Milling Science, Ag Studies, Business, Operations, Food Science, Biosystems Engineering, Mechanized Systems or related studies

Job description

Your role:

Ardent Mills is committed to transforming how the world is nourished. As the premier flour-milling and ingredient company, we cultivate the future of plant-based solutions to help our customers and communities thrive. Ardent Mills is looking for curious, ambitious individuals who want to grow their global and local impact, career, and leadership skills. Cultivate is Ardent Mill’s 15-month Operations Development Program based at a facility, structured and designed to provide a foundational understanding of how to live Ardent Mills' values while gaining hands‑on experience in the industry, both with processes and people.

Intent of Program

Develop into a role where you will: Lead others, ensuring personnel safety and food safety; Ensure equipment reliability through sound maintenance practices; Monitor key performance indicators and costs associated with production; Manage team members, their schedules and department staffing.

Expectations

• Hours vary dependent on facility needs 24/7 operation which may require assistance during off hours
• Not a desk job – very hands‑on
• Primarily learning process from our hourly team member experts
• Conflict identification and management is a requirement as the area of responsibility increases.
• This job does require development and nurturing of interpersonal relationships.

As a Operations Development Associate, you will relocate to other Ardent Mills facilities within the US upon gaining skills and experiences throughout the program. The Development Associate role is not permanent but meant to fully onboard new leaders to a progressively challenging permanent roles within the organization, often at a different location.

As a part of this leadership role at Ardent Mills, you will be required to work alongside your team members, which may include long days, rotating shifts (days, evenings, and nights) as well as weekend or holiday work. Together we make a team. Together we make Ardent Mills.

To succeed, you must be able to:

• Deliver results by inspiring others and working to earn trust every day
• Serve others with understanding, respect, and care
• Operate with simplicity, clarity, and transparency
• Deal with and drive change
• Organize, prioritize, and own multiple tasks while meeting or exceeding deadlines
• Learn and apply new technology and share your knowledge with others
• Above all you will be expected to carry out all your activities with reliability, integrity, compliance and in a safe, environmentally responsible, and efficient manner

Essential skills and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Milling Science, Ag Studies, Business, Operations, Food Science, Biosystems Engineering, Mechanized Systems or related studies, or 3+ years of leadership experience
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities

Other considerations:

• Ability to travel up to 15% of the time
• Willing to relocate as promotional opportunities exist throughout career
• Must be authorized to work in the Unites states without sponsorship now and in the future

Except where prohibited by law, all offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test and pre‑employment background check. Team members must be clean shaven in order to perform tasks where respiratory protection is required and the use of a respirator (including N‑95 dust mask) requires a proper seal for adequate protection.

Location:

Various Locations USA Address: 126 Remote, Denver CO, 80202 Additional Locations (if applicable):

Employment Type:

Full time

Additional Information:

Competitive Compensation: We provide market-driven base pay, based on skills, abilities, and level of experiences. Our salary ranges are broad, and individual salary will be market competitive based on a candidate’s unique set of skills and level of experience. The starting range for this position is $64,900.00 - $86,533.70, with additional earning potential possible commensurate with experience. Additionally, we believe that our team members are the reason for our success and all team members are incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and individual results achieved. While the specific bonus plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions, the targeted bonus plan and targeted percentage amount for this role is Bonus - OIP, 5% Annual.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage
• Health and Dependent Savings Accounts
• Life and Disability Programs
• Voluntary Benefit Programs
• Company Sponsored Wellness Programs
• Retirement Savings with Company Match
• Team Member and Family Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Employee Recognition Program with Rewards (RAVE)

Application Deadline:

Ardent Mills accepte les demandes sur une base continue sans date limite de dépôt des demandes. Ardent Mills accept applications on a rolling basis without a deadline for application.

EEO Commitment:

At Ardent Mills, everyone matters and everyone has a voice. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and team members and the decisions will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, age, political affiliation, or any other non‑merit characteristic protected by law or not. Together, celebrating our differences, we make Ardent Mills.

En Ardent Mills, todos importan y todos tienen voz. Estamos comprometidos a brindar un ambiente de respeto mutuo donde haya igualdad de oportunidades disponibles para todos los solicitantes y miembros del equipo y las decisiones se basarán en el mérito, la competencia, el desempeño y las necesidades comerciales. Estamos orgullosos de ser un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades. No discriminamos por motivos de raza, color, religión, credo, origen nacional, ascendencia, estado civil, sexo, orientación sexual, identidad o expresión de género, discapacidad física o mental, embarazo, información genética, condición de veterano, edad, política. afiliación, o cualquier otra característica no meritoria protegida por ley o no. Juntos, celebrando nuestras diferencias, formamos Ardent Mills. La descripción del puesto anterior ha sido diseñada para indicar la naturaleza general y los deberes y responsabilidades esenciales del trabajo realizado por los empleados dentro de este puesto. Es posible que no contenga un inventario completo de todos los deberes, responsabilidades y calificaciones requeridas de los empleados en este puesto. La descripción, los deberes, las funciones y las responsabilidades están sujetos a cambios a discreción de Ardent Mills.

Role Designation Recruitment Fraud Disclaimer:

At Ardent Mills, the security of our employees and candidates is a priority. We will never request sensitive information such as your bank account information, social security number, or other non‑publicly available information during the application and interview process. If someone asks you for sensitive information, we strongly advise that you assume that individual is not affiliated with Ardent Mills. Some things to watch out for: Slightly altered or unprofessional email addresses. Ardent Mills’ Recruitment team only corresponds from email addresses with the domain [e-mail] or [e-mail]. Vague job requirements or job descriptions. Our open job opportunities and descriptions can be found at ardentmillscareers.com Below is information about our exciting career paths.