noun
assistant section manager; assistant to section manager
A corporate title in Japanese companies, typically ranking below a section manager (課長) and above regular staff. The role involves assisting the section manager and may include supervisory duties.
彼は営業部の調査役に昇進した。
He was promoted to assistant section manager in the sales department.
調査役として、課長の業務を補佐しています。
As an assistant section manager, I assist the section manager with their duties.
係長 is a subsection chief, often a lower or parallel rank to 調査役 depending on the company structure.
Compound of 調査 (investigation, survey) and 役 (role, duty). The term originally referred to an investigative role but evolved into a standard corporate title for an assistant manager.