Security / Administrative Support Assistant in Portsmouth

The Denholm Group is an international family-owned business founded in 1866. We are a leading operator in Shipping, Logistics, Seafoods, and Industrial Services. Our diverse businesses operate under the esteemed 'Denholm Standard,' which embodies our unwavering commitment to upholding the law, integrity, fairness, and respect in every interaction.

As part of the Denholm Group, Denholm Industrial Services provides scaffolding and access solutions, metal and floor surface preparation and the application of protective coatings, often working in challenging environments. This comprehensive set of capabilities minimises on-site interfaces for our customers. We pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence, ensuring safety, efficiency, and quality are at the forefront of every job.

We are seeking a highly organised and dependable Administrative Support Assistant to join our team on a fixed-term contract. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented professional to provide vital administrative capabilities to a fast-paced department.

The successful candidate will ensure the smooth operation of our daily workflows. This blended role focuses heavily on end-to-end vetting and security clearance administration (BPSS/SC) in strict alignment with HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard guidelines, alongside critical operational support such as purchase order processing and data management.

• Vetting & Compliance Administration
• Clearance Processing: Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of BPSS security applications, ensuring strict adherence to the four pillars: Identity, Right to Work, 3-year employment history, and Basic Criminal Record checks (DBS).
• Record Management: Maintain highly accurate, auditable, and secure personnel vetting records within internal tracking databases and spreadsheets.
• Stakeholder Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact for screening queries, communicating clearly and professionally with candidates and internal teams to expedite clearances.
• Information Governance: Handle highly sensitive personal data with absolute discretion, ensuring full compliance with UK GDPR and corporate security policies.
• Audit & Escalation: Monitor pending clearances, proactively chase outstanding documentation, and escalate anomalies or potential risks to management.
• Operational & Business Support
• Core Administration: Provide comprehensive daily administrative support to ensure seamless departmental operations.
• Work Control Systems: Input, update, and manage data within internal work control systems, including job cards, trackers, and project reports.
• Financial Administration: Generate, process, and track purchase orders and invoices accurately to support departmental procurement.
• Workflow Management: Prioritise high-volume tasks effectively under tight deadlines without compromising on quality or accuracy.

• Experience & Technical Skills
• Security Vetting: Proven hands-on experience processing pre-employment checks against the Cabinet Office BPSS framework.
• Administrative Background: Strong track record in corporate administration, vetting compliance, or operational support, ideally within an industrial or engineering environment.
• Systems Proficiency: Highly proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word), SharePoint, and digital work control or ERP systems.
• Financial Literacy: Practical experience handling basic invoicing, timekeeping data, and purchase order tracking.
• Core Competencies
• Meticulous Accuracy: Exceptional attention to detail when identifying employment gaps, reviewing compliance documents, and entering data.
• Time Management: Proven ability to multitask, manage competing priorities, and deliver outputs within strict timeframes.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
• Collaboration: A proactive team player who is equally comfortable working independently using their own initiative.

The successful candidate must successfully achieve and maintain BPSS security clearance as a condition of employment. This requires providing a full, uninterrupted three-year employment history; any gaps during this period must be fully declared and verified.