Brian Gnandt

Experience

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  Foley Hoag LLP

  Jan 2003 - Jan 2005

  Paralegal
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  Cetrulo & Capone, LLP

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2007

  Law Clerk
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  Massachusetts Senate Counsel

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2008

  Attorney
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  Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)

  Jan 2008 - Jun 2010

  Investigator/Compliance Officer

  • Managed a caseload of ~250 cases; resolved complaints of discrimination based on sex, race, disability, age, religion, and retaliation• Developed investigative plans, conducted interviews, facilitated mediations, presided over hearings, and drafted public dispositions, delivering thorough and impartial resolutions for assigned cases

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  U.S. Department of Education

  Jun 2010 - Apr 2016

  Attorney & Acting Team Leader, Office for Civil Rights

  • In an acting capacity, coached and developed a team of six with a caseload averaging 70 cases filed under Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination Act; consistently resolved cases within 180 days• Coordinated the OCR Atlanta Region mediation team, leading 10 facilitators, revising the mediation manual, and training staff on updated policies and procedures• Processed FOIA and Privacy Act requests as part of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Team, ensuring adherence to federal guidelines and the Department of Education’s FOIA Manual• Provided training for agencies, school districts, and colleges, regarding all topics within OCR’s jurisdiction• Played a pivotal role in the Vanderbilt University multi-year high-profile sexual assault case, conducting compliance reviews, onsite investigations and ensuring adherence to Title IX• Selected to serve as the Atlanta-based liaison to the national mediation and disability networks on emergent topics and novel case issues Show less

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  California Polytechnic State University

  Apr 2016 - Feb 2019

  Director of Civil Rights & Compliance, Title IX Coordinator

  • Partnered with cross-functional leaders to run the compliance program for 21,000 students, 2,000 employees, vendors and 13 unions consistent with civil rights laws, including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, VAWA, Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and ethics, whistleblower laws and campus policies• Built a fair and neutral discrimination investigation process for the CSU system, shaping policies used across 23 campuses while navigating changes in Title IX and state and federal compliance requirements• Modernized the Equal Opportunity Compliance Program by assessing strengths & weaknesses, developing internal protocols, implementing a tracking system and advocating for resources to improve investigative capacity• Oversaw campus-wide professional development and prevention education programs on civil rights, ethics, and conflict of interest; ensured training accuracy & tracked completions• Enhanced team capacity and retention by recruiting, hiring, and mentoring attorney-investigatorsDrove succinct caseload decision-making, managing agreement terms and expectations for 2-6 contract attorneys• Assessed responses and approved finalized investigative reports, averaging 60-80 per year and with 0 overturned appeals• Led and developed two investigators into promotional capacities, encouraging career progression and morale• Collaborated campus-wide to implement immediate responses to reports of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation; consulted with the President, Provost, VPs, HR, Police Chief, and others regarding legal and policy implications• Designed and implemented an internal controls system and electronic case management tool• Executed a Case Processing Guide to standardize investigations, ensuring consistency & quality• Chaired Campus Partners bimonthly Management Meetings and a Member of the Campus Quarterly Disability Access and Compliance Committee Show less

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  U.S. Department of Education

  Feb 2019 - now

  Regional Program Manager, Office for Civil Rights

  • Appointed Acting Regional Director (10/2021 -- 02/2022) • Lead and develop a regional office of attorneys setting performance goals and managing investigations to ensure neutrality, fairness and consistency; support management teams and streamline operations for increased efficiency• Oversee 1,000+ discrimination matters subject to legislative, judicial, media, and public scrutiny, achieving timeliness goals and reducing overage cases• Improve productivity by 85% over five years, despite an 89% increase in cases filed and a 20% decrease in investigative staff, leveraging innovative case tracking and process improvements to accelerate accountability and case resolutions• Boost productivity using real-time reporting; spearhead and streamline office operations, including the transition to a paperless environment during COVID-19, managing space reconfigurations, and ensuring seamless new hire onboarding• Partner cross-functionally with HR on hiring, training, mentoring, and retaining top talent for the organization; utilize good judgment to mediate and resolve conflicts fairly and recognize high performers • Optimize the region’s appeals and mediation programs, resolving case conflicts and implementing policies efficiently • Lead four investigative teams aligned with collective bargaining requirements and performance management and development best practices; supervised administrative staff and contractors, including IT and facilities vendors• Manage mediation program, increasing year-over-year utilization and one of the highest nationally • Selected to be a Chair of the Nationwide mediation guidance revisions committee in the Fall of 2022 Show less