Project Manager - Computer Vision Project

About CERP:

The Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan, or CERP, is a leading independent nonpartisan policy institution focused on improving decision-making in Pakistan through evidence-informed research, engaging with policy counterparts with real policy challenges and designing and advising on high-impact reforms based on data. At CERP, we also deploy cutting-edge pedagogy tailored for Pakistan and provide data insights to the private sector on product and process design.

About Project :

Economic growth in developing countries is often constrained by weak tax administration. Property tax revenues, crucial for financing public goods, are typically undermined by outdated valuation systems and high discretion in assessments.

This project addresses these challenges by:

1. Developing a computer vision algorithm that predicts property assessments using property images.
2. Testing algorithm effectiveness through a “human vs. machine” randomized controlled trial (RCT), comparing traditional tax official judgment against algorithm-driven recommendations.

The project involves two components:

• Algorithm Development: Improving and validating a computer vision algorithm that integrates property image data (collected in 2013 by the Excise & Taxation Department and managed by the Urban Unit) with geo-referenced survey data on property characteristics.
• RCT Implementation: Partnering with the Excise & Taxation Department and Urban Unit to test the algorithm’s ability to reduce misclassification and improve revenue collection compared to status quo methods.

Role Overview:

This is a full-time, Lahore-based position requiring a self-driven, resourceful individual who can thrive in small, high-performing teams. The role demands initiative, accountability, and the ability to take on challenges with minimal supervision while delivering high-quality outputs.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Responsibilities

• Take end-to-end ownership of project rollout and execution, ensuring all activities are delivered on schedule and aligned with project objectives.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, work breakdown structures, and timelines, tracking progress against milestones and deliverables.
• Proactively identify risks, bottlenecks, and dependencies, and lead their timely resolution to keep the project running smoothly without disruption.
• Coordinate across research, field, technical, and stakeholder teams to ensure activities stay sequenced, resourced, and on track.
• Monitor budget, resources, and timelines, escalating issues to Principal Investigators with proposed solutions where needed.
• Drive accountability across the team, ensuring commitments are met, and corrective action is taken when timelines or quality are at risk.

2. Project & Stakeholder Management

• Liaise with key government partners, including the Government of Punjab Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control (ET&NC) Department, the Urban Unit, Finance Department, and Planning and Development Department.
• Maintain regular communication, streamline approvals, and manage stakeholder relationships.
• Draft letters, reports, presentations, and minutes for stakeholders while ensuring accurate documentation.
• Provide technical and operational troubleshooting support to stakeholders.
• Providing access to the datasets from the relevant departments.

3. Technical & Functional Expertise

• Design and develop survey instruments, mobile applications, and dashboards to support data collection, real-time monitoring, and reporting.
• Manage, clean, and analyze large datasets to ensure data accuracy and reliability.
• Monitor data quality on an ongoing basis through dashboards, automated flags, and high-frequency checks, and conduct back-checks and spot audits to verify accuracy during fieldwork.
• Pilot research design and survey instruments, troubleshoot field issues, and train field assistants on data collection and quality protocols.
• Draft project updates and progress reports for PIs.

4. Operational Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end implementation of the RCT, ensuring strict adherence to approved research protocols, data integrity, and ethical standards throughout fieldwork.
• Oversee survey and administrative data collection exercises in consultation with PIs.
• Manage field operations, including surveyor training, implementation strategy, and field spot checks.
• Develop and enforce implementation protocols, guidelines, and targets for field teams.
• Conduct training and review sessions to ensure field team alignment with project goals.
• Travel across Lahore for pilot testing, monitoring, and data collection as required.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, or related disciplines.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in research/program design, survey execution, or evaluation.
• Experience with large dataset management, quality checks, and data presentation.
• Familiarity with programming languages (Stata, R, Python) and willingness to learn quickly.
• Experience in managing fieldwork in urban and peri-urban areas.