noun
deputy director; assistant director; vice director; deputy general manager; assistant general manager; vice (general) manager
A title for the second-in-command of a department or division (部) in an organization. The exact English equivalent depends on the organization's naming conventions.
彼は営業部の副部長に昇進した。
He was promoted to deputy general manager of the sales department.
副部長は部長の不
The assistant director ran the meeting in the director's absence.
課長 is a section chief, typically a lower rank than 部長; 副部長 is a deputy department head, above 課長 in many hierarchies.
Compound of 副 (ふく, 'vice-, assistant') and 部長 (ぶちょう, 'department head').