Kardon Center for Arts Therapy Director

Founded in 1908 Settlement Music School, a non-profit organization, is one of the largest community schools of the arts in the United States serving children and adults of all ages at five branches in Pennsylvania located in South, West and Northeast Philadelphia, Germantown, Willow Grove, and its virtual branch, Settlement Music Online. Settlement provides $3 million dollars each year in financial aid and scholarships to 60% of its students. Settlement’s reach is broad, and it continues the principles of its Founders, that there be no barriers to participating in music and arts education.

Settlement Music School is one of only 18 community schools of the arts in the country that has national accreditation through ACCPAS – the Accrediting Commission of Community and Precollegiate Arts School.

Position:

Kardon Center for Arts Therapy Director
416 Queen St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147

The Kardon Center for Arts Therapy Director reports to the Chief Academic Officer.

The Director is responsible for the leadership, administration, strategic growth, and clinical oversight of the Kardon Center for Arts Therapy (KCAT). There are currently 150 active clients being served on a weekly basis in individual sessions at Settlement’s branches and 200 clients being served on a weekly basis in group settings through our community partnerships. Additionally, Settlement successfully applied to serve Medicaid clients and is currently the only Medicaid client provider in Philadelphia County for art and music therapy. Settlement currently has 50 Medicaid clients.

The Director provides leadership, vision and strategic direction for all creative arts therapy services across Settlement Music School and works closely with Branch leadership, the Finance, Communications, Advancement, and Human Resources Departments, and community partners to ensure high-quality, accessible arts therapy services. The Director supervises the KCAT Coordinator and oversees all arts therapists and program initiatives.

The Director develops and leads plans to grow the client base, achieve financial, clinical, and community engagement goals and is responsible for advancing the visibility and impact of KCAT throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.

Leadership and Staff Management

• Directly supervise and support the KCAT Coordinator in all Medicaid-related functions.
• Partner with the Chief Academic Officer in the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention of arts therapists.
• Manage therapist schedules in collaboration with Branch Directors.
• Ensure a high level of communication and support for therapists, including observations, evaluations, supervision, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
• Complete therapist observations and performance evaluations and implement follow-up plans as needed.
• Work with Human Resources to ensure that all required licenses, certifications, clearances, and professional credentials remain current and compliant with insurance and regulatory requirements.
• Work with payroll coordinator to compile and approve therapist payroll information and ensure accuracy of reported hours.

Clinical and Client Services Oversight

• Oversee therapy client intake, assessment, placement, and scheduling procedures in collaboration with the Coordinator and branch staff.
• Provide clinical supervision consistent with Pennsylvania regulations and professional standards.
• Maintain and update clinical documentation templates, procedures, and forms to ensure compliance with Settlement policies, Medicaid requirements, HIPAA regulations, and insurance standards.
• Oversee compliance with Medicaid and other reimbursement requirements.

Program Development and Growth

• Create and expand arts therapy programming responsive to the needs of Settlement families, schools, healthcare organizations, and community partners.
• Grow client base across all branches and identify opportunities for expanded services and partnerships throughout the Philadelphia region.
• Cultivate relationships with universities, healthcare providers, social service organizations, and nonprofits to support therapist recruitment, referrals, and program expansion.
• Ensure regular communication and site visits with community partners and maintain strong collaborative relationships.

Administrative and Financial Management

• Oversee all operational systems used by KCAT, including Ensora, Salesforce, and related reporting systems.
• Work collaboratively with the Finance Department to ensure accurate billing, invoicing, collections, and reimbursement activities.
• Monitor program financial performance and assist in developing and managing annual budgets.
• Ensure accurate client account setup, billing practices, and follow-up on outstanding balances in collaboration with the Coordinator.
• Ensure KCAT maintains appropriate documentation.

Communications, Advancement, and School Leadership

• Collaborate with the Communications Department on marketing, outreach, and enrollment initiatives.
• Partner with the Advancement Department to identify funding opportunities and support grant development efforts.
• Promote awareness of creative arts therapy services throughout Settlement and the broader community.
• Attend Settlement administrative meetings, faculty meetings, school-wide events, and other activities as requested.
• Serve as an advocate for the role of creative arts therapy within Settlement and the broader field.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Music Therapy, Art Therapy, or Dance Movement Therapy.
• Board Certification in Music Therapy (MT-BC), Art Therapy (ATR-BC), or Dance Movement Therapy (BC- DMT).
• Clinical licensure and eligibility to provide supervision under Pennsylvania regulations preferred.
• Minimum five years of experience providing creative arts therapy services preferred.
• Minimum three years of supervisory or program management experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success in staff leadership, program development, or community engagement.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Salesforce, Ensora, and related systems preferred.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a collaborative and service-oriented approach.
• Ability to work on occasional evenings and Saturdays.
• Access to reliable transportation for partner site visits.
• Commitment to Settlement’s mission and values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Benefits

Settlement Music School offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions.
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• Educational discounts for Settlement lessons and classes.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Hybrid work schedule if requested.

Salary range: $75,000 – $80,000

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume by email to Karin Orenstein at View email address on us.fitly.work.

Settlement Music School is an Equal Opportunity Employer that encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply for this position.