Full-Time

Utility Operator

Ardent Mills

Ardent Mills

1,001-5,000 employees

Flour milling and plant-based ingredient supplier

Compensation Overview

$19 - $21/hr

+ 5% annual target bonus + $1.50 second-shift differential + $3.00 third-shift differential

Kenosha, WI, USA

In Person

Regular on-site presence is required; shifts, overtime, weekends, holidays, or on-call work may apply.

Bachelor's

Category
Operations & Logistics (1)

Get referred to Ardent Mills

See people who can refer or advise you

Requirements
  • A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
  • Proficiency with computer tools, including email and spreadsheets, is required.
  • Proficiency in written and verbal English is required.
  • The employee must be able to lift 50 pounds and exert 20 pounds of force.
  • The employee must be able to work in environments containing dust and wear respiratory protection.
  • The employee must be able to work in hot and cold conditions.
  • The employee must work on their feet and walk around the facility for approximately 80% of the shift.
  • The employee must be able to ascend and descend stairs throughout the facility.
  • The employee must be able to climb step and extension ladders and, if necessary, climb on top of rail cars.
  • The employee must wear required personal protective equipment.
  • The employee must be clean-shaven when performing tasks requiring respiratory protection so that the respirator, including an N95 dust mask, forms a proper seal.
  • The employee must be willing to work alternate shifts after cross-training, including 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM and 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
  • The employee must be willing to accept accountability, work effectively in a team, and complete cross-training in at least one other position.
  • The employee must follow personnel, equipment-safety, sanitation, and business-unit policies and procedures.
Responsibilities
  • Maintain the sanitary condition of the facility.
  • Become skilled in at least two operating positions in the plant to provide coverage when those positions are vacant.
  • Perform routine cleaning of floors, equipment, roofs, and outside grounds in departments where needed.
  • Perform specialized cleaning tasks, including bin cleaning, rebolting sifters, and changing filter socks.
  • Perform basic process maintenance.
  • Complete cross-training in at least two different operator jobs.
  • Carry out special duties assigned by management.
  • Perform work reliably, compliantly, safely, efficiently, and in an environmentally responsible manner.
Desired Qualifications
  • At least one year of manufacturing or plant operations experience.

Ardent Mills operates a network of over 35 flour mills and mixing facilities to supply flours and whole grains to food manufacturers and bakeries. The company processes raw grains into specialized ingredients and multi-use flours that serve as the foundation for various plant-based food products. Unlike traditional suppliers, it integrates expertise in agriculture, food technology, and milling to provide a comprehensive partnership for businesses of all sizes. Its goal is to transform global nourishment by developing sustainable plant-based solutions and reliable supply chains across North America.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Denver, Colorado

Founded

2014

Get referred to Ardent Mills

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • CHS's July 2026 story shows about 300 million bushels flowing through Ardent Mills annually.
  • Commerce City expansion targets end-2026 completion, increasing Mountain West capacity.
  • Stone Mill acquisition strengthens organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free ingredient offerings.

What critics are saying

  • Conagra expects 2027 adjusted equity earnings near $140 million after 2026's 21% decline.
  • The November 2025 closure of Omaha, York, and Steptoe cut capacity and pulse exposure.
  • NLRB case 18-CA-391979 in Hastings alleges bargaining and recognition violations, risking labor disruption.

What makes Ardent Mills unique

  • Ardent Mills controls North America's largest wheat-milling network, spanning 35-plus facilities.
  • Its trading and risk-management team under Erik Wibholm stabilizes customer supply and pricing.
  • Denver Innovation Center and Emerging Nutrition add specialty grains, pulses, and prototype development.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Hybrid Work Options

401(k) Company Match

Wellness Program

Team Member and Family Assistance Program (EAP)

Company News

World-Grain
Jul 22nd, 2026
Ardent Mills' earnings drop for fiscal 2026.

Ardent Mills' earnings drop for fiscal 2026. 07.22.2026 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US - Ardent Mills ended fiscal 2026 with lower earnings and gross profit after tallying gains on both fronts in the previous year. According to the 2026 10-K report filed July 15 by Chicago, Illinois, US-based Conagra Brands Inc., which owns 44% of the milling joint venture, after-tax earnings for Ardent Mills fell 28% to $267.4 million from $369.2 million in 2025, which had marked a 2.1% year-over-year increase. Ardent Mills' gross profit for 2026 dropped nearly 20% to $525.7 million after rising 2.2% to $656.2 million for 2025. At the top line, Ardent Mills saw sales decline for the third straight year. The Denver-based miller generated fiscal 2026 net sales of $3.71 billion, down 7% from just under $4 billion in fiscal 2025, when sales slid 13% year over year, Conagra said. That followed a 12% net sales decrease to nearly $4.6 billion in fiscal 2024. For the 2026 fourth quarter ended May 31, Conagra said equity method investment earnings - primarily representing its stake in Ardent Mills - fell 26% to $42.6 million from $57.4 million a year earlier. Full-year 2026 equity method investment earnings came in at $140.7 million for the 14-week quarter, down 23% from $182.4 million a year ago. "Ardent Mills earnings for fiscal 2026 reflected lower commodity trading revenue," Conagra said in its 10-K report. "Results for fiscal 2026 and 2025 included net charges of $9.6 million and $7.2 million, respectively, primarily related to Ardent Mills restructuring activities." Excluding the impact of restructuring activities and asset impairment for the joint venture, as well as unusual tax items, fiscal 2026 adjusted equity method earnings were $150.3 million, down 21% from $189.6 million a year earlier. Fourth-quarter adjusted equity method earnings declined 26% year over year to $45.1 million from $61 million. Ardent Mills is North America's biggest milling company. Conagra and Cargill each own 44% of Ardent Mills under the joint venture, formed in 2014, while CHS owns a 12% interest. When reporting third-quarter results back in April, Conagra had cut $30 million from its 2026 adjusted equity method earnings forecast of $170 million, with chief financial officer David Marberger citing pressure on Ardent Mills' commodity trading revenue from lower prices and less volatility in wheat markets at the time. For fiscal 2027, Conagra projects adjusted equity method earnings of approximately $140 million. In a July 15 conference call with analysts on Conagra's fourth-quarter 2026 performance, Matthew Neisius, senior director of investor relations, noted that Ardent Mills remains a "swing factor" in fiscal 2027 guidance. "Ardent Mills is always one that we keep an eye on, right?" Neisius said in the call. "Wheat prices have been a bit more volatile of late, but it's always challenging to extrapolate that into a full year." Get better grain and ag industry search results. Adding And World Grain tells Google to prioritize World Grain stories.

Grain Journal
Jul 15th, 2026
CHS-Ardent Mills partnership connects northern plains wheat to growing markets.

CHS-Ardent Mills partnership connects northern plains wheat to growing markets. by Editor Jul 15, 2026 Rail lines across northeastern North Dakota are moving millions of bushels of wheat each year as CHS and Ardent Mills work together to connect farmer-owned grain supplies with domestic flour markets and evolving consumer demand. In Drayton, North Dakota, shuttle trains carrying as many as 116 rail cars are loaded with about 420,000 bushels of grain per train. The CHS ag retail business units in Drayton and Devils Lake operate seven shuttle elevators that ship approximately 34 million bushels of hard red spring wheat annually. About half of those rail cars are filled with hard red spring wheat, much of it bound for Ardent Mills flour milling facilities across the United States. Hard red spring wheat is valued for its high protein content, which provides the elasticity needed for products such as bread and pizza dough. Ardent Mills, North America's largest wheat miller, is jointly owned by Conagra Brands, Cargill and CHS. The company operates nearly three dozen facilities processing traditional and organic grains from Washington to Massachusetts and from Saskatchewan to Puerto Rico. The ownership connection gives CHS access to a consistent source of demand for grain produced by its cooperative farmer-owners while providing greater visibility into customer needs for wheat quality, timing and volume. In turn, Ardent Mills benefits from the reach of the cooperative system and its connections with growers across major wheat-producing regions. While flour remains the company's primary business, Ardent Mills is also expanding its focus on specialty grains and ingredients through its Emerging Nutrition portfolio. The initiative targets growing demand for foods made with alternative grains and pulses, including chickpeas, lentils, sorghum and flax, while also supporting growers interested in organic production. Recent investments include the acquisition of Stone Mill, a specialty grain cleaning facility in Richardton, North Dakota, that connects chickpea and lentil growers in the Pacific Northwest with domestic and international markets, as well as an organic grain elevator in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The company also is investing in advanced milling capabilities for alternative grains and pulses to broaden the range of products available to food manufacturers. At the same time, Ardent Mills continues to expand its traditional flour operations. The company is increasing capacity at its Commerce City, Colorado, facility and recently opened a flour mill near Tampa, Florida, capable of producing 1.8 million pounds of flour each day. Company officials said consumer demand continues to support both traditional wheat products and nutrient-dense food ingredients, creating opportunities for growers who produce conventional wheat as well as specialty and organic crops.

Yahoo Finance
May 12th, 2026
Ardent Mills appoints Erik Wibholm as EVP of trading and risk management

Ardent Mills has appointed Erik Wibholm as executive vice president of trading and risk management, effective 26 May 2026. He will lead commodity risk management and trading activities whilst overseeing the Customer Risk Management team. Wibholm joins from Cargill, where he most recently served as senior managing director of global oilseeds. He brings over 25 years of experience in agricultural commodity markets, with expertise in global wheat businesses across Australia and Europe. He succeeds Mike Miller, who is retiring after 12 years with Ardent Mills and more than 35 years in agriculture and food. Miller played a pivotal role in developing the company's risk management organisation and served on boards including MIAX Futures Exchange and the National Grain and Feed Association.

PR Newswire
May 12th, 2026
Ardent Mills appoints Erik Wibholm as executive VP of trading and risk management

Ardent Mills has appointed Erik Wibholm as executive vice president of trading and risk management, effective 26 May 2026. He will join the executive team, overseeing commodity risk management, trading activities and customer risk management solutions. Wibholm joins from Cargill, where he served as senior managing director of global oilseeds, leading trading, commercial strategy and risk management. He brings over 25 years of experience in agricultural commodity markets, including expertise in global wheat operations across Australia and Europe. He succeeds Mike Miller, who is retiring after 12 years with Ardent Mills and more than 35 years in agriculture and food. Ardent Mills, headquartered in Denver, is a flour-milling and ingredient company operating over 40 locations across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico.

World-Grain
May 12th, 2026
Ardent Mills appoints Wibholm executive VP.

Ardent Mills appoints Wibholm executive VP. 05.12.2026 DENVER, COLORADO, US - Ardent Mills has appointed Erik Wibholm as executive vice president of trading and risk management, effective May 26. He will succeed Mike Miller, who is retiring after a 12-year career with the company. Wibholm, who is joining Ardent Mills from Cargill, will serve on the company's executive team, setting strategic direction and leading commodity risk management and trading activities, while also overseeing the Customer Risk Management team, supporting customers with solutions to navigate markets. "Our risk management capabilities are a strategic differentiator - both in helping our customers be successful and in managing our business," said Sheryl Wallace, chief executive officer of Ardent Mills. "Erik's global experience and leadership will be instrumental as we continue to navigate markets, manage our network and create value for customers with the evolving food trends." Denver, Colorado, US-based Ardent Mills is North America's largest milling company with a total daily capacity of 468,285 cwts, according to Sosland Publishing Co.'s 2026 Grain & Milling Annual. Cargill and Conagra Brands Inc. each own 44% of Ardent Mills under a joint venture formed in 2014, while CHS Inc. owns a 12% interest. At Cargill, Wibholm was most recently senior managing director of global oilseeds, leading trading, commercial strategy and risk management across a complex global portfolio. He has more than 25 years of experience in agricultural commodity markets with expertise in global wheat, having led businesses in Australia and Europe, Ardent Mills said, along with a record of building culture, high-performing teams and delivering results. "Ardent Mills plays a unique role at the center of the value chain, one that has become even more crucial in today's increasingly dynamic operating environment, and that's what makes this opportunity so compelling," Wibholm said. "I look forward to partnering with the team to enhance risk management capabilities, strengthen performance and help position the business for long-term success by leading through change and delivering reliability and consistency for our customers." Ardent Mills credited Miller, whose career in agriculture and food spanned over 35 years, with playing a pivotal role in developing and evolving the company's risk management organization, establishing robust capabilities and a culture of disciplined execution during his tenure. Miller's impact included helping shape a strong organization, delivering value to customers and contributing to the industry through trusted relationships across and the agriculture and food sectors, Ardent Mills said. This includes his board service with MIAX Futures Exchange, the National Grain and Feed Association, and the advisory council of the J.P. Morgan Center for Commodities at the University of Colorado Denver. Get better grain and ag industry search results. Adding And World Grain tells Google to prioritize World Grain stories.