Ardent Mills
Manager, Corporate Development and Strategy (Hybrid)
Ardent Mills, Denver, Colorado, United States, 80285
Overview
Manager, Corporate Development and Strategy (Hybrid) – Denver, CO. As part of the Corporate Development and Strategy team at Ardent Mills, you will play an important role in driving the company’s strategic growth agenda. Your responsibilities will span evaluating and executing acquisitions, partnerships, and divestitures, as well as supporting key enterprise and functional strategy initiatives, including growth strategies and deep-dive analyses.
Responsibilities
Corporate Development
Assist with critical aspects of transaction execution including project management, due diligence, valuation, and integration planning. Partner closely with cross-functional teams (legal, finance, operations, HR, etc.) and external advisors to ensure seamless execution.
Collaborate with business leaders and subject matter experts to develop investment theses, build business cases, and align opportunities with Ardent Mills’ long-term strategic goals.
Build and maintain detailed financial models and valuations (e.g., DCF, precedent transactions, public comps), and assess synergies to support decision-making on potential deals.
Prepare and deliver executive-ready materials and recommendations to senior leadership and other key stakeholders.
Prepare business cases, management presentations, and other supporting materials for M&A and partnership opportunities.
Track post-deal performance and support integration efforts by collaborating with business units and enabling functions to ensure strategic goals are achieved.
Support the execution of key strategic initiatives beyond M&A, including joint ventures, commercial partnerships, and capability expansions.
Support cross-functional strategic projects as needed and translate high-level growth initiatives into actionable, measurable programs with Strategy and Business Unit teams.
Provide support for executive leadership and board materials, as needed, and for the annual operating planning process.
Contribute to Ardent Mills’ long-term growth by identifying and evaluating strategic opportunities aligned with emerging market trends, customer needs, and innovation pathways.
Continuously build understanding of the food and ingredient industry and collaborate with peers to elevate the Corporate Development and Strategy function.
Strategy
Support cross-functional strategic projects as needed. Partner with Strategy and Business Unit teams to translate growth initiatives into actionable programs.
Provide support for executive leadership and board materials, as needed.
Provide support for annual operating planning process.
Contribute to long-term growth by evaluating strategic opportunities aligned with market trends, customer needs, and innovation pathways.
Develop and maintain a growing understanding of the food and ingredient industry.
What You Will Bring to Ardent Mills
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree with a strong academic record.
3-5 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, venture capital, or corporate development.
Advanced financial modeling skills and analytical rigor, including the ability to structure and review complex valuation models.
Advanced PowerPoint skills and ability to clearly communicate data and insights.
Strong knowledge of corporate finance principles and accounting.
Familiarity with the food, agriculture, or manufacturing sectors is preferred.
Experience managing multiple projects and collaborating with external and internal stakeholders.
Skills and Competencies
Proven ability to connect financial analysis with strategic insights.
Intellectual curiosity and a passion for continuous learning and improvement.
Effective project management skills with the ability to lead initiatives and manage cross-functional resources.
Comfort working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and across time zones.
Comfort with variable and unpredictable “projects driven” work schedule.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to distill complex ideas into clear recommendations.
A proactive approach to challenging the status quo and identifying opportunities for value creation.
Strong ethical judgment and commitment to Ardent Mills’ core values of trust, serving, simplicity, and safety.
Location & Schedule Ardent Mills is headquartered in Denver, CO. This role will be hybrid in the Denver, Colorado area. The successful candidate will be expected to commit to a periodic presence in the Denver HQ office, with frequency to be discussed with the hiring manager.
Additional Details Address: 1875 Lawrence Street, Denver CO, 80202
Employment Type: Full time
Compensation & Benefits Competitive Compensation:
Market-driven base pay based on skills and experience. Starting range: $120,000 - $140,000, with potential for higher compensation based on experience. Eligible for annual bonus (target: 15% of base, depending on role and contributions).
Benefits:
Medical, Dental, Vision; Health Savings Accounts; Life and Disability; Voluntary Benefits; Wellness Programs; Retirement with Company Match; EAP; Paid Time Off & Holidays; Employee Recognition Program.
Application & Equal Opportunity Application Deadline: 10/23/2025
EEO Commitment:
Ardent Mills is 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, disability, age, veteran status, or any other non-merit characteristic protected by law.
Recruitment Fraud Disclaimer We will never request sensitive information during the application process. If someone asks for sensitive information, assume they are not affiliated with Ardent Mills. Only official communications come from ardentmillscareers.com and the email domain first.last@ardentmills.com or first.last.talent@ardentmills.com.
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Responsibilities
Corporate Development
Assist with critical aspects of transaction execution including project management, due diligence, valuation, and integration planning. Partner closely with cross-functional teams (legal, finance, operations, HR, etc.) and external advisors to ensure seamless execution.
Collaborate with business leaders and subject matter experts to develop investment theses, build business cases, and align opportunities with Ardent Mills’ long-term strategic goals.
Build and maintain detailed financial models and valuations (e.g., DCF, precedent transactions, public comps), and assess synergies to support decision-making on potential deals.
Prepare and deliver executive-ready materials and recommendations to senior leadership and other key stakeholders.
Prepare business cases, management presentations, and other supporting materials for M&A and partnership opportunities.
Track post-deal performance and support integration efforts by collaborating with business units and enabling functions to ensure strategic goals are achieved.
Support the execution of key strategic initiatives beyond M&A, including joint ventures, commercial partnerships, and capability expansions.
Support cross-functional strategic projects as needed and translate high-level growth initiatives into actionable, measurable programs with Strategy and Business Unit teams.
Provide support for executive leadership and board materials, as needed, and for the annual operating planning process.
Contribute to Ardent Mills’ long-term growth by identifying and evaluating strategic opportunities aligned with emerging market trends, customer needs, and innovation pathways.
Continuously build understanding of the food and ingredient industry and collaborate with peers to elevate the Corporate Development and Strategy function.
Strategy
Support cross-functional strategic projects as needed. Partner with Strategy and Business Unit teams to translate growth initiatives into actionable programs.
Provide support for executive leadership and board materials, as needed.
Provide support for annual operating planning process.
Contribute to long-term growth by evaluating strategic opportunities aligned with market trends, customer needs, and innovation pathways.
Develop and maintain a growing understanding of the food and ingredient industry.
What You Will Bring to Ardent Mills
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree with a strong academic record.
3-5 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, venture capital, or corporate development.
Advanced financial modeling skills and analytical rigor, including the ability to structure and review complex valuation models.
Advanced PowerPoint skills and ability to clearly communicate data and insights.
Strong knowledge of corporate finance principles and accounting.
Familiarity with the food, agriculture, or manufacturing sectors is preferred.
Experience managing multiple projects and collaborating with external and internal stakeholders.
Skills and Competencies
Proven ability to connect financial analysis with strategic insights.
Intellectual curiosity and a passion for continuous learning and improvement.
Effective project management skills with the ability to lead initiatives and manage cross-functional resources.
Comfort working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and across time zones.
Comfort with variable and unpredictable “projects driven” work schedule.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to distill complex ideas into clear recommendations.
A proactive approach to challenging the status quo and identifying opportunities for value creation.
Strong ethical judgment and commitment to Ardent Mills’ core values of trust, serving, simplicity, and safety.
Location & Schedule Ardent Mills is headquartered in Denver, CO. This role will be hybrid in the Denver, Colorado area. The successful candidate will be expected to commit to a periodic presence in the Denver HQ office, with frequency to be discussed with the hiring manager.
Additional Details Address: 1875 Lawrence Street, Denver CO, 80202
Employment Type: Full time
Compensation & Benefits Competitive Compensation:
Market-driven base pay based on skills and experience. Starting range: $120,000 - $140,000, with potential for higher compensation based on experience. Eligible for annual bonus (target: 15% of base, depending on role and contributions).
Benefits:
Medical, Dental, Vision; Health Savings Accounts; Life and Disability; Voluntary Benefits; Wellness Programs; Retirement with Company Match; EAP; Paid Time Off & Holidays; Employee Recognition Program.
Application & Equal Opportunity Application Deadline: 10/23/2025
EEO Commitment:
Ardent Mills is 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, disability, age, veteran status, or any other non-merit characteristic protected by law.
Recruitment Fraud Disclaimer We will never request sensitive information during the application process. If someone asks for sensitive information, assume they are not affiliated with Ardent Mills. Only official communications come from ardentmillscareers.com and the email domain first.last@ardentmills.com or first.last.talent@ardentmills.com.
#J-18808-Ljbffr