Both "e"s are pronounced in the same way in the word департамент but "e" after a consonant is pronounced as english e in "pen"but the consonant becomes palatalized (softenned). In unstressed positions e becomes short "i" but the preseding consonant is palatalized. At the beginning of the word, after a vowel or soft/hard sings it is pronounced "ye" in stressed positions. A consonant before a soft sing is always palatalized.